used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
birdmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
circlingverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
couriersnounUS /ˈkɜːriərz/
plural of “courier” — a person who carries a message
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
defendersnounUS /dɪˈfendərz/
plural of “defender” — a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading The tragedies of this battle were no less grim and desperate.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
the organ of sight
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
opinion or judgment
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
fleetsnounUS /fliːts/
plural of “fleet” — group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The tragedies of this battle were no less grim and desperate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
HoodnounUS /hʊd/
an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The tragedies of this battle were no less grim and desperate.
held up in the air
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
not any; not one
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
pigeonsnounUS /ˈpɪdʒənz/
plural of “pigeon” — wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
cut with a saw
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
spectacularadjectiveUS /spekˈtækjələr/
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
moving very fast
From this reading They saw one of these couriers descending in swift, graceful circles.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The tragedies of this battle were no less grim and desperate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
tragediesnounUS /ˈtrædʒədiz/
plural of “tragedy” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading The tragedies of this battle were no less grim and desperate.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of these daring defenders of our shores had been ordered to stay out of the fight and report to General Hood if the fleet should be sunk.
Vassar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So intense and spectacular had been the battle of the fleets that neither Vassar nor his superior officer had lifted their eyes to the dim struggle of the skies.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The birdmen had climbed to such heights they were no larger to the eye than a flock of circling pigeons.
