used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
CHALLENGEverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
CommissionersnounUS /kəˈmɪʃənərz/
plural of “commissioner” — a government administrator
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
ConfederatenounUS /kənˈfedərət/
a supporter of the Confederate States of America
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
daringnounUS /ˈderɪŋ/
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
decksnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
enforceverbUS /enˈfɔːrs/
ensure observance of laws and rules
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
hysterianounUS /hɪˈsteriə/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
roused to anger
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
MasonnounUS /ˈmeɪsən/
American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
NorthernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
overhauledverbUS /ˈoʊvərhɔːld/
past form of “overhaul” — travel past
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
proclaimedadjectiveUS /proʊˈkleɪmd/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
seasnounUS /siːz/
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
Slidell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
SteamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
strangleverbUS /ˈstræŋɡəl/
kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
possessing sweep
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He must now strangle Northern public opinion to enforce this principle.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
TrentnounUS /trent/
a river in central England that flows generally northeastward to join with the Ouse River and form the Humber
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
votedverbUS /ˈvoʊtɪd/
past form of “vote” — express one's preference for a candidate or for a measure or resolution; cast a vote
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Congress, swept off its feet by the wave of popular hysteria, proclaimed Wilkes a hero and voted their thanks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
at the time that
From this reading THE CHALLENGE "One war at a time," the President said to his Secretary of State when he proposed a foreign fight.
WilkesnounUS /wɪlks/
English reformer who published attacks on George III and supported the rights of the American colonists (1727-1797)
From this reading Captain Wilkes had overhauled the British Steamer _Trent_ on the high seas, searched her and taken the Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell by force from her decks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The people of the North were mad with joy over the daring act.
