used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
ammunitionnounUS /ˌæmjəˈnɪʃən/
projectiles to be fired from a gun
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
axlenounUS /ˈæksəl/
a shaft on which a wheel rotates
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
beleagueredverbUS /bɪˈliːɡərd/
past form of “beleaguer” — annoy persistently
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
cannonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
depressionnounUS /dɪˈpreʃən/
a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
being one more than seven
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
encourageverbUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒ/
contribute to the progress or growth of
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
cut with a saw
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
make square
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
having a supporting base
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
SURRENDERnounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
wagonsnounUS /ˈwæɡənz/
plural of “wagon” — any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading The men themselves, three ranks deep, were in a hollow square, with the cannon at the angles and the supply wagons in the center.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The men, crowded together, were standing in a depression seven or eight feet below the surface of the surrounding prairie.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE SAD SURRENDER Ned took another look at the beleaguered force, and what he saw did not encourage him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Near by was an ammunition wagon with a broken axle.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading Every face looked worn and anxious, but they did not seem to have lost heart.
