Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

fear resulting from the awareness of danger

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

(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 They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

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

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

in addition

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

an occurrence of something

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

defensive structure consisting of a movable obstacle composed of barbed wire or spikes attached to a wooden frame; used to obstruct cavalry

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

the process of giving careful thought to something

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

the first light of day

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

an opposing military force

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

the activity of keeping something secret

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

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

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

a Mid-Atlantic state on the Atlantic; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

plural of “obstruction” — any structure that makes progress difficult

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

above and across; more than

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

go across or through

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

plural of “patriot” — one who loves and defends his or her country

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

the act of applying force in order to move something away

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

act as a barrier between; stand between

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

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

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They must get beyond the ships and the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all realized the dangers to be met.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

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

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

hard to endure

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

except if; if not

From this reading They had passed the ships nearest to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

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

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing forward.

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

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

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.

comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading It was better for the two boats to keep together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to separate and the boys understood this.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which would now be a hindrance to the boys.