used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
AllennounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
assistingverbUS /əˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “assist” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
bannernounUS /ˈbænər/
long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
crusadenounUS /kruːˈseɪd/
a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
draftedverbUS /ˈdræftɪd/
past form of “draft” — draw up an outline or sketch for something
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
the head of a state government
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
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 They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
legislaturenounUS /ˈledʒəsleɪtʃər/
persons who make or amend or repeal laws
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
maintainingverbUS /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “maintain” — cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
Middlebury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAR.
and nothing more
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAR.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
petitionnounUS /pəˈtɪʃən/
a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
pretensionsnounUS /prəˈtenʃənz/
plural of “pretension” — a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
reclaimedadjectiveUS /riˈkleɪmd/
delivered from danger
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
settlersnounUS /ˈsetlərz/
plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAR.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Success perched upon his banner, and not only was he able to hold the lands for the people, but he drove the New York settlers out of the district.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
VermontnounUS /vərˈmɑːnt/
a state in New England
From this reading He had drafted a petition to the English king, asking that Vermont should be a separate colony, having its own governor and its legislature.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAR.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The people of Middlebury welcomed Allen and his Green Mountain Boys with enthusiasm.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading They knew that their only chance of maintaining their lands--lands which they had reclaimed and made valuable--was by assisting Allen in his crusade against the pretensions of New York.
