used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RHINE.
bluffsnounUS /blʌfs/
plural of “bluff” — a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
cohortsnounUS /ˈkoʊhɔːrts/
plural of “cohort” — a company of companions or supporters
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
defileverb
place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
dominatedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːməneɪtəd/
controlled or ruled by superior authority or power
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
enemy'snounUS /ˈenəmiz/
possessive form of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
engageverbUS /enˈɡeɪdʒ/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
FranksnounUS /fræŋks/
plural of “frank” — a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
groupedadjectiveUS /ɡruːpt/
arranged into groups
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
infantrynounUS /ˈɪnfəntri/
an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
march in a procession
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RHINE.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
rejoiningverbUS /riˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “rejoin” — join again
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
RHINEnounUS /raɪn/
United States parapsychologist (1895-1980)
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RHINE.
scrimmagenounUS /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/
(American football) practice play between a football team's squads
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
carry out
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RHINE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Three cohorts of infantry, each one thousand strong, received orders to march through the defile into the open plain, engage the vanguard of the Franks, and draw the bulk of the enemy's army into the dangerous passage.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
soldiers collectively
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
vanguardnounUS /ˈvænɡɑːrd/
the leading units moving at the head of an army
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
Victorin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Victorin, several officers and myself stood grouped upon one of the highest bluffs that dominated the field on which the scrimmage was to take place.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After a hurried conference with the officers, the troops took their posts of battle.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young general was not long in rejoining the vanguard.
