AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
ardournoun
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/
carefully weighed
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
departmentsnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənts/
plural of “department” — a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
drawingnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
educationnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
fightingnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
impatientlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
intensiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtensɪv/
characterized by a high degree or intensity; often used as a combining form
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
keenestadjectiveUS /ˈkiːnəst/
superlative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
lacquernounUS /ˈlækər/
a black resinous substance obtained from certain trees and used as a natural varnish
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/
absolutely essential
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
periodnounUS /ˈpɪriəd/
an amount of time
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
puttingnounUS /ˈpʌtɪŋ/
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
sharpenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːrpənd/
having the point made sharp
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
soldiernounUS /ˈsoʊldʒər/
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
TOUCHverbUS /tʌtʃ/
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
touchesnounUS /ˈtʌtʃəz/
plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
underlyingadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ/
in the nature of something though not readily apparent
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading The motives underlying that ardour of spirit varied with the temperament, disposition and education of the soldier.
variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
WARnounUS /wɔːr/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
warfarenounUS /ˈwɔːrfer/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The finishing touches in the various departments that had come to be considered necessary in modern warfare had been given.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A TOUCH OF WAR The period of intensive training was drawing to a close.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were all waiting impatiently for the order to “go up.”
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the “putting on the lacquer” the fighting spirit of the men had been sharpened to its keenest edge.
