used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
AlamonounUS /ˈæləmoʊ/
a siege and massacre at a mission in San Antonio in 1836; Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged and massacred American rebels who were fighting to make Texas independent of Mexico
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
bearernounUS /ˈberər/
someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
blockadenounUS /ˌblɑːˈkeɪd/
a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
captureverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
despatches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
being one more than seven
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading NEARING THE END.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
of the present time and place
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
lastedverbUS /ˈlæstəd/
past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
for more time
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
lossesnounUS /ˈlɔːsəz/
something lost (especially money lost at gambling)
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
MexicansnounUS /ˈmeksɪkənz/
plural of “mexican” — a native or inhabitant of Mexico
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
NEARINGverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading NEARING THE END.
not any; not one
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
and nothing more
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
siegenounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
skirmishingverbUS /ˈskɜːrmɪʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “skirmish” — engage in a skirmish
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The siege of the Alamo had lasted during eight long, terrible days.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NEARING THE END.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Out of several that had been sent, it was understood that two only had escaped capture and immediate execution.
vigilantadjectiveUS /ˈvɪdʒələnt/
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
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 There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The blockade, however, had become so close and vigilant that it was no longer possible for any bearer of despatches to get out or in.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There had been a great deal of severe skirmishing, in which the Mexicans had suffered losses every time they drew too near the walls.
