used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
convictsnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkts/
plural of “convict” — a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading The sentinels stopped us at the gate and demanded our passports.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
disfiguredadjectiveUS /dɪˈsfɪɡjərd/
having the appearance spoiled
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
fortificationsnounUS /ˌfɔːrtəfəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “fortification” — defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The sentinels stopped us at the gate and demanded our passports.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
hangman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
masonsnounUS /ˈmeɪsənz/
plural of “mason” — American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
moatnounUS /moʊt/
ditch dug as a fortification and usually filled with water
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
Orenburg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The sentinels stopped us at the gate and demanded our passports.
passportsnounUS /ˈpæspɔːrts/
plural of “passport” — any authorization to pass or go somewhere
From this reading The sentinels stopped us at the gate and demanded our passports.
pincersnounUS /ˈpɪnsərz/
plural of “pincer” — a hand tool for holding consisting of a compound lever for grasping
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
rampartnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrt/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
repairingverbUS /rɪˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “repair” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
cut with a saw
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
sentinelsnounUS /ˈsentənəlz/
plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The sentinels stopped us at the gate and demanded our passports.
shavenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪvən/
having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
shovelsnounUS /ˈʃʌvəlz/
plural of “shovel” — a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing 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.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The sentinels stopped us at the gate and demanded our passports.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SIEGE.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sentinels stopped us at the gate and demanded our passports.
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 Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
wheel-barrows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Some were carrying away in wheel-barrows the earth and refuse which filled the moat, others with shovels were digging up the ground; on the rampart the masons were carrying stones and repairing the walls.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaven heads, and with faces disfigured by the hangman’s pincers.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They were at work on the fortifications, under the direction of the soldiers of the garrison.
