1916
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
absolutelyadverbUS /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
armiesnounUS /ˈɑːrmiz/
plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
armynounUS /ˈɑːrmi/
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
capitalnounUS /ˈkæpətəl/
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
captureverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
collapsenounUS /kəˈlæps/
an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
CrownnounUS /kraʊn/
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənd/
characterized by great determination
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
emperornounUS /ˈempərər/
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
FrancenounUS /fræns/
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
FrenchnounUS /frentʃ/
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
an entrance that can be closed by a gate
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
GermannounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmən/
a person of German nationality
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
historicadjectiveUS /hɪˈstɔːrɪk/
belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
hopesnounUS /hoʊps/
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
IInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
individualadjectiveUS /ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒəwəl/
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/
set down according to a plan
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson.
lessonnounUS /ˈlesən/
a unit of instruction
From this reading But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
offensiveadjectiveUS /əˈfensɪv/
violating or tending to violate or offend against
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
orderedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrdərd/
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
possessionnounUS /pəˈzeʃən/
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
PrincenounUS /prɪns/
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
RightlyadverbUS /ˈraɪtli/
with honesty
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
similaradjectiveUS /ˈsɪmələr/
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
spitenounUS /spaɪt/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
strategicadjectiveUS /strəˈtiːdʒɪk/
relating to or concerned with strategy
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
surpassedverbUS /sərˈpæst/
past form of “surpass” — distinguish oneself
From this reading In sheer human interest the battle of Verdun surpassed all other individual events of the war.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
twenty-thirdadjective
coming next after the twenty-second in position
From this reading Verdun must be taken before he ordered his armies upon the French capital; and so it was that, upon February twenty-third, 1916, the German Crown Prince began a determined assault upon the historic French fortress.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
VerdunnounUS /ˈvɜːrdən/
a battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stopped
From this reading Rightly is the fortress of Verdun called the gateway to France.
warnounUS /wɔːr/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By reason of its strategic position, it is absolutely essential that an invading army have possession of Verdun before thought of a successful advance on Paris can be entertained; and it was upon the capture of Paris that the German emperor laid his hopes, in spite of the collapse of a similar offensive launched in the first days of the war.
Wilhelm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Wilhelm II had learned a lesson.
