1808
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
battlefieldnounUS /ˈbætəlfiːld/
a region where a battle is being (or has been) fought
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the sight was not exhilarating.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
placed crosswise
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
downcastadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnkæst/
directed downward
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
exhilaratingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/
making lively and cheerful
From this reading But the sight was not exhilarating.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
garbnounUS /ɡɑːrb/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
limbonounUS /ˈlɪmboʊ/
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
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 And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
march in a procession
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
marchingnounUS /ˈmɑːrtʃɪŋ/
the act of marching; walking with regular steps (especially in a procession of some kind)
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
the force of workers available
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
not any; not one
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the sight was not exhilarating.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
Peterborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
shabbinessnoun
a lack of elegance as a consequence of wearing threadbare or dirty clothing
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading But the sight was not exhilarating.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
springyadjective
elastic; rebounds readily
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The swing and springy step of soldiers on the march is always a pleasant sight; but there was a downcast look on most of these men's faces, and a general shabbiness of appearance that was not attractive.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
trampnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
except if; if not
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A body of men, four abreast, and for the most part in the garb and with the bearing of soldiers, was marching along.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading And no wonder: for they had come from the battlefield, and crossed the sea in crowded ships, not too comfortable; and were drawing near, as prisoners of war, to the dreary limbo which, unless they chanced to die, was to be their abode for they knew not how long.
Yaxley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tramp of feet was heard one afternoon late in the Autumn of 1808, on the road that leads from Peterborough to Yaxley.
