used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
battlefieldsnounUS /ˈbætəlfiːldz/
plural of “battlefield” — a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
blood-soaked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
Cameron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
CommonernounUS /ˈkɑːmənər/
a person who holds no title
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
convictnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkt/
a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
deep-sunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
DEFEATnounUS /dɪˈfiːt/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
remove the dust from
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
EdwinnounUS /ˈedwən/
king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
an act that fails
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
immediately past
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
a particular point in time
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
PlagueverbUS /pleɪɡ/
cause to suffer a blight
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
ReconstructionnounUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃən/
the period after the American Civil War when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union; 1865-1877
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
resignedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnd/
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
SouthwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
stalwartadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːlwərt/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
having a supporting base
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
StantonnounUS /ˈstæntən/
United States suffragist and feminist; called for reform of the practices that perpetuated sexual inequality (1815-1902)
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Turning his deep-sunken eyes on them a moment, he said slowly:
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Ben Cameron and his father hurried Southward to a home and land passing under a cloud darker than the dust and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields--the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading TRIUMPH IN DEFEAT Upon the failure to convict the President, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank into despair and died, and a soldier Secretary of War opened the prison doors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
at the time that
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
which person or people
From this reading When at last he spoke, it was to the stalwart negroes who had called to see him and were standing by his bedside.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
wrestledverbUS /ˈresəld/
past form of “wrestle” — combat to overcome an opposing tendency or force
From this reading For two weeks the old Commoner wrestled in silence with Death.
