used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
ALERTadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
(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 Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
combinedadjectiveUS /kəmˈbaɪnd/
made or joined or united into one
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
coupledadjectiveUS /ˈkʌpəld/
joined together especially in a pair or pairs
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
defendverbUS /dɪˈfend/
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
one or the other of two
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
faggedadjective
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading No one of them yielded to panic fears.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
immediately past
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
leaguenounUS /liːɡ/
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
something that is lost
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
come together
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
not any; not one
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one of them yielded to panic fears.
win a victory over
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading No one of them yielded to panic fears.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
relaxationnounUS /ˌriːlækˈseɪʃən/
(physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
taxverbUS /tæks/
levy a tax on
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselves to the last gasp.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ON THE ALERT The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupled with the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the next morning.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined they presented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meet and overcome.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading No one of them yielded to panic fears.
