used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
Acadie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
AnnapolisnounUS /əˈnæpəlɪs/
state capital of Maryland; site of the United States Naval Academy
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
BretonnounUS /ˈbretən/
a native or inhabitant of Brittany (especially one who speaks the Breton language)
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
Canso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
CapenounUS /keɪp/
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
coloniesnounUS /ˈkɑːləniz/
plural of “colony” — 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 Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/
fill with distaste
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
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 Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
enlargingverbUS /ɪnˈlɑːrdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “enlarge” — make larger
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading GRAND PRE.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
only a very short time before
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
Louisbourg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
and nothing more
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
PRE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRAND PRE.
retireverbUS /rɪˈtaɪr/
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
RoyaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
straitnounUS /streɪt/
a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
strengtheningnounUS /ˈstreŋθənɪŋ/
becoming stronger
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
strongholdnounUS /ˈstrɔːŋhoʊld/
a strongly fortified defensive structure
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But though Acadie had been given up to the English, it could hardly be said to be held by them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Only two posts were occupied, the one at Canso, in the strait that separated Cape Breton from Acadie, and the other at Annapolis Royal.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Here they had built a stronghold at Louisbourg, which they were enlarging and strengthening every year, to the great disgust and alarm of the New England colonies.
a late time of life
From this reading Nearly thirty years before this, the French government had been compelled to give up the possession of Acadie to the English, and to retire to the Island of Cape Breton.
