used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
in a state of sleep
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
Biechelberg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
decampedverbUS /diˈkæmpt/
past form of “decamp” — leave a camp
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
enemy'snounUS /ˈenəmiz/
possessive form of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/
cause fear in
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
ten 10s
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
hussars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
immediately past
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
the force of workers available
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
not any; not one
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
notionsnounUS /ˈnoʊʃənz/
plural of “notion” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
an organization to gain political power
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
peasantsnounUS /ˈpezənts/
plural of “peasant” — a country person
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
Phalsbourgers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
Prussians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
sortienounUS /ˈsɔːrti/
a military action in which besieged troops burst forth from their position
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
squadronsnounUS /ˈskwɑːdrənz/
plural of “squadron” — a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Instead of approaching in silence, he had ordered guns to be fired at two hundred paces from the enemy's advanced posts, to frighten the Prussians!
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A few days after the passage of the last squadrons of hussars, we learned that the Phalsbourgers had made a sortie to carry off cattle from the Biechelberg.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
in or at the place that
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading That night we might have captured the whole of the garrison of our village; but the officer in command of the party was a poor creature.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading But they, in great alarm, had sprung out of their beds, where they lay fast asleep, and had all decamped, firing back at our men; and the peasants lost no time in driving their cattle into the woods.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading From this you may see what notions our officers had about war.
