used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
Abbessnoun
the superior of a group of nuns
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading FEARS.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
set up or found
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
hostagesnounUS /ˈhɑːstədʒəz/
plural of “hostage” — a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
temporary military shelter
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
the sound of laughing
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
not any; not one
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
ominouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːmənəsli/
in an ominous manner
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
peasantsnounUS /ˈpezənts/
plural of “peasant” — a country person
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
pretendverbUS /priˈtend/
make believe with the intent to deceive
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
surrendernounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading Hard as he had struggled against the surrender, the Lieutenant struggled almost as hard, now it was inevitable, to put a good face on it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
transferredverbUS /trænˈsfɜːrd/
inflected form of “transfer” — transfer somebody to a different position or location of work
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
at the time that
From this reading The Abbess was not present that evening when the hostages transferred themselves to the peasants' side of the camp.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading Had she witnessed the scene she had found, it is possible, matter for reflection.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading But his easy word and laugh fell flat in face of a crowd so watchful and so ominously silent that it was useless to pretend that the step was no more than a change from a hut in this part to a hut in that.
