Chapter XXXV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

react verbally

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

take a court case to a higher court for review

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

third-person singular of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

a native or inhabitant of Austria

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Is it to be peace or war?

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

without doubt or question

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

plural of “convulsion” — a sudden uncontrollable attack

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

reach, make, or come to a decision about something

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

lacking protection or support

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

an official engaged in international negotiations

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

an opposing military force

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

a feeling of excitement

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

at any time

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

every person

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

apart from; not including

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

(of memory) deficient in retentiveness or range

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

secured with bastions or fortifications

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

free from evil or guilt

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the title of the Holy Roman Emperors or the emperors of Austria or of Germany until 1918

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

plural of “league” — an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

no person; not anyone

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

and nothing more

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Is it to be peace or war?

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading Is it to be peace or war?

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the property of being smooth and shiny

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

plural of “pull” — the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the Italian region on the island of Sardinia; the kingdom of Sardinia was the nucleus for uniting Italy during the 19th century

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

a city in southern Ukraine on the Black Sea

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

possessive form of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These are questions everybody asks, but nobody seems able to answer.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

the capital and largest city of Austria; located on the Danube in northeastern Austria; was the home of Beethoven and Brahms and Haydn and Mozart and Schubert and Strauss

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Is it to be peace or war?

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

look attentively

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

at the time that

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Before Sebastopol the armies of England, France, and Sardinia keep watch and ward, ever ready for action; at Vienna, the spruce _attaché_ deciphers and makes his _précis_ of those despatches which decide the soldier’s fate.

during the time that

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE WAR-MINISTER AT HOME Except at the crisis of great convulsions, when the man with the bayonet is the only individual that clearly knows what he has got to do and how to do it, the soldier is but the puppet upon the stage, while the diplomatist pulls the strings from behind the scenes.

suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh

From this reading Has Russia entered into a league with the Austrian Government, or is the Kaiser, in his youthful enthusiasm, eager for an appeal to arms, and forgetful of his defenceless capital, not thirty leagues from the Polish frontier, and innocent of a single fortified place between its walls and the enemy, prepared to join heart and hand with France and England against the common foe?