Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

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

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

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

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

farther along in physical or mental development

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

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

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

plural of “battery” — group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

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

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

put or send forth

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

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

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

the first light of day

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

plural of “delay” — time during which some action is awaited

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

start firing a weapon

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

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

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

set up or found

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

gossip spread by spoken communication

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

past form of “hack” — cut with a hacking tool

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

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

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

possessive form of “jackson” — English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

the act of departing

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

in motion

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

and nothing more

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

above and across; more than

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

plural of “pioneer” — someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

inflected form of “rebuild” — build again

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

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

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

plural of “sharpshooter” — an athlete noted for accurate aim

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

of animals or fruits that have a shell

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

plural of “sleeper” — a rester who is sleeping

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

in or at or to some place

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

inflected form of “testify” — give testimony in a court of law

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

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

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

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

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

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

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

soldiers collectively

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

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

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

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

From this reading D. H. Hill, leading Jackson's advance, brought up two batteries and shelled the opposite side.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

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

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

at the time that

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

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

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading Fitz John Porter and the 5th Army Corps were across, somewhere between the river and Savage Station, leaving only, in the thick wood above the stream, a party of sharpshooters and a battery.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading When the grey pioneers advanced to their work, these opened fire.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The bridge must be rebuilt, and the grey worked on, but with delays and difficulties.

something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

From this reading THE RAILROAD GUN The troops, moving at dawn to the Chickahominy, over a road and through woods which testified in many ways of the blue retreat, found the Grapevine Bridge a wreck, the sleepers hacked apart, framework and middle structure cast into the water.