aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
anew
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
the two together, not just one
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
chessnounUS /tʃes/
weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
CLOSINGnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
colonelsnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəlz/
plural of “colonel” — a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
ConfederacynounUS /kənˈfedərəsi/
the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Their confidence in Lee was sublime.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
defiantadjectiveUS /dɪˈfaɪənt/
boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
encouragementnounUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒmənt/
the expression of approval and support
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
and nothing more
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
LeenounUS /liː/
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading Their confidence in Lee was sublime.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
not any; not one
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
NorthernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
not in physical motion
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
sublimeadjectiveUS /səˈblaɪm/
inspiring awe
From this reading Their confidence in Lee was sublime.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their confidence in Lee was sublime.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
toolsnounUS /tuːlz/
plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were elderly, gray and thin, but never had the faces of the two colonels been more defiant.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the Confederacy crumbling about them it was characteristic of both that they should show no despair, if in truth they felt it.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading THE CLOSING DAYS Within the Southern lines and just beyond the range of the Northern guns, two men sat playing chess.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading He could still move mountains, although he had no tools with which to move them, and the younger officers, mere boys many of them, would come back to them again and again for encouragement.
