used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had an important announcement to make.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading He had an important announcement to make.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
BattalionsnounUS /bəˈtæljənz/
plural of “battalion” — an army unit usually consisting of a headquarters and three or more companies
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The meeting was called by request of the Commander.
CabinetnounUS /ˈkæbənət/
a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The meeting was called by request of the Commander.
CommandernounUS /kəˈmændər/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading The meeting was called by request of the Commander.
ConfederacynounUS /kənˈfedərəsi/
the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading Jefferson Davis presided.
emphasisnounUS /ˈemfəsəs/
special importance or significance
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
FacingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
brought together in one place
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had an important announcement to make.
of great significance or value
From this reading He had an important announcement to make.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
JeffersonnounUS /ˈdʒefərsən/
3rd President of the United States; chief drafter of the Declaration of Independence; made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and sent out the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore it (1743-1826)
From this reading Jefferson Davis presided.
leadersnounUS /ˈliːdərz/
the body of people who lead a group
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
LeenounUS /liː/
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
held up in the air
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
engage in
From this reading He had an important announcement to make.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
presidedverbUS /prɪˈzaɪdɪd/
past form of “preside” — act as president
From this reading Jefferson Davis presided.
express the need or desire for
From this reading The meeting was called by request of the Commander.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had an important announcement to make.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The meeting was called by request of the Commander.
at the time that
From this reading When the smoke had lifted from the field of the Black Battalions, Lee stood in Richmond before a secret meeting of the leaders of the Confederacy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Facing the anxious group gathered around the Cabinet table he spoke with unusual emphasis:
