used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
(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 All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
armiesnounUS /ˈɑːrmiz/
plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He wondered at the long reach of that first possible retreat.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
dozedverbUS /doʊzd/
past form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
entrenchments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
opinion or judgment
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
yet to be or coming
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
ten 10s
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
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 He wondered at the long reach of that first possible retreat.
luminousadjectiveUS /ˈluːmənəs/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
opposingadjectiveUS /əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
characterized by active hostility
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He wondered at the long reach of that first possible retreat.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He wondered at the long reach of that first possible retreat.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading He wondered at the long reach of that first possible retreat.
put a saddle on
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He wondered at the long reach of that first possible retreat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
Vassar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Vassar sleep had been impossible for the past two nights.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading All life seemed to mirror itself in a vast luminous crystal before his eyes--the past, the present, the future.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He nodded in the saddle as he watched the construction of the second line of entrenchments five miles in the rear of the first.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He dozed for an hour during the day from sheer exhaustion, but the nearer the hour came for the test of strength between the opposing armies on which hung the fate of a hundred million people, the deeper became his excitement.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He wondered at the long reach of that first possible retreat.
