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AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
abortive
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From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
all
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
appeared
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
assailed
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
assault
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
attack
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From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
batteries
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
besiegers
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
bit
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From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
breasts
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
check
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
courage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
crumbled
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From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
days
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
dealing
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
debris
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From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
DEFEAT
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
defended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
discourage
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
effect
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
endowed
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
energy
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
filled
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From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
first
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
fortifications
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From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
found
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
four
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From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
fresh
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
gain
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
hazarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
human
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
intermission
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
invincible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
kept
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
last
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From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
less
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
levelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
made
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
making
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
manned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
men
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
mines
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
more
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
never
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
night
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From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, four days after the abortive night attack, the Spaniards once more hazarded an assault.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
place
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
possession
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From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
realize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
remaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
resistance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
resources
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
rest
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
seemed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
seemingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
solid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
Spaniards
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From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
three
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From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
towers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
trenches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The towers crumbled; the trenches were filled with the debris; and the fortifications were levelled, bit by bit.
unavailable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
unexpected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
VICTORIOUS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The men who defended the place, seemingly endowed with more than human energy and courage, appeared to be invincible; the Spaniards assailed the walls, and found them less solid than the breasts of those who manned them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT The first effect of the unexpected check they had received was to discourage the besiegers; and they seemed to realize that they could never gain possession of the town except by dealing with the remaining resources of resistance one by one, and thus making each of them unavailable.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For three days they made no fresh assault; but all their batteries were kept in play, and all their mines were working without rest or intermission.