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1861
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From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
abandoned
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From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
advantage
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From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
American
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From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
Bay
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From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
blockade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
cannons
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From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
Chesapeake
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From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
Civil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
clear
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From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
completed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
Confederacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
effective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
establishment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
fall
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From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
Federal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
fled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
forces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
Fortress
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From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
HAMPTON
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From this reading IN HAMPTON ROADS.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
hotly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
hurriedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN HAMPTON ROADS.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
Minnesota
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
Monroe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
munitions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
naval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
Norfolk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
opponents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
panic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
quantities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
raging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
ROADS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN HAMPTON ROADS.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
seizing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
Southern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
State
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But some sudden panic seizing them, they fled across Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, leaving vast quantities of cannons and other munitions of war to fall into the hands of their opponents.
Virginia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
War
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The American Civil War was raging hotly, with the advantage if anything on the side of the Southern Confederacy.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make entirely clear the position of the _Minnesota_ at this point, some words of explanation are necessary here.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the spring of the year 1861, the Federal forces had hurriedly abandoned their great naval establishment at Norfolk in the State of Virginia, why or wherefore it would be hard to say; for they had completed an effective blockade of Hampton Roads, and might have held their ground against all the forces likely to attack them.
