used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading TIMELY AID.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
AustriansnounUS /ˈɔːstriənz/
plural of “austrian” — a native or inhabitant of Austria
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
chaosnounUS /ˈkeɪɑːs/
a state of extreme confusion and disorder
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
Congrevenoun
English playwright remembered for his comedies (1670-1729)
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
power to direct or determine
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
defeatnounUS /dɪˈfiːt/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
drilledadjectiveUS /drɪld/
trained in a skill by repetitious practice
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
an opposing military force
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
explodeverbUS /ɪkˈsploʊd/
cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
fugitivesnounUS /ˈfjuːdʒɪtɪvz/
plural of “fugitive” — someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
hissingnounUS /ˈhɪsɪŋ/
a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
HungarianadjectiveUS /həŋˈɡeriən/
relating to or characteristic of Hungary
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
invaluableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvæljəbəl/
having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
come together
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
not any; not one
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
something you have to do
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
officered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
on one occasion
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
opposingadjectiveUS /əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
characterized by active hostility
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
panic-strickenadjective
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
poorlyadverbUS /ˈpuːrli/
(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
ricochetting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
rocketsnounUS /ˈrɑːkəts/
plural of “rocket” — any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
routedverbUS /ˈruːtɪd/
past form of “route” — send documents or materials to appropriate destinations
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
shamefuladjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪmfəl/
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
spittingnounUS /ˈspɪtɪŋ/
the act of spitting (forcefully expelling saliva)
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
TIMELYadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪmli/
before a time limit expires
From this reading TIMELY AID.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
hard to endure
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
twelve-pounders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading On such trying occasions, one man with his nerves under control is invaluable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Austrians had but to sweep the highway with their twelve-pounders, and the opposing centre gave way at once.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
at the time that
From this reading It was a shameful defeat: all turned tail and ran before the enemy; and when the Congreve rockets were sent, ricochetting, hissing, and spitting fire, to explode among the panic-stricken fugitives, the chaos became complete.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Meanwhile the Hungarian army had advanced to meet the enemy; but being ill officered and poorly drilled, with no experience whatever of actual fighting, it was easily routed.
