used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Through breach after breach, the German hosts were pouring.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A vast system of forts had been pounded into ruin.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading Through breach after breach, the German hosts were pouring.
carnagenounUS /ˈkɑːrnɪdʒ/
the savage and excessive killing of many people
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
chaosnounUS /ˈkeɪɑːs/
a state of extreme confusion and disorder
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
defensesnounUS /dɪˈfensəz/
plural of “defense” — (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading The defenses of Liege had failed.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The defenses of Liege had failed.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
fortsnounUS /fɔːrts/
plural of “fort” — a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading A vast system of forts had been pounded into ruin.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
a person of German nationality
From this reading Through breach after breach, the German hosts were pouring.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The defenses of Liege had failed.
hostsnounUS /hoʊsts/
plural of “host” — a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Through breach after breach, the German hosts were pouring.
impregnableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡnəbəl/
immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A vast system of forts had been pounded into ruin.
intolerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɑːlərəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
LiegenounUS /liːdʒ/
a person holding a fief; a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord
From this reading The defenses of Liege had failed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
the force of workers available
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
NapiernounUS /ˈneɪpiər/
Scottish mathematician who invented logarithms; introduced the use of the decimal point in writing numbers (1550-1617)
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
poundedverbUS /ˈpaʊndɪd/
past form of “pound” — hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
From this reading A vast system of forts had been pounded into ruin.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading Through breach after breach, the German hosts were pouring.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading A vast system of forts had been pounded into ruin.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading A vast system of forts had been pounded into ruin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
a special situation
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through breach after breach, the German hosts were pouring.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A vast system of forts had been pounded into ruin.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Through breach after breach, the German hosts were pouring.
at the time that
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir William and Napier returned to London to face those days of intolerable suspense, when men carried about like a waking nightmare the new proof that an impregnable fortress was a thing of the past.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading People far away from the scenes of carnage and chaos woke in the night under a clutch of dread.
