used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
accurateadjectiveUS /ˈækjərət/
conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
appointingverbUS /əˈpɔɪntɪŋ/
-ing form of “appoint” — create and charge with a task or function
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
armornounUS /ˈɑːrmər/
protective covering made of metal and used in combat
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
uttered without voice
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
chaoticadjectiveUS /keɪˈɑːtɪk/
lacking a visible order or organization
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
compactnounUS /ˈkɑːmpækt/
a small cosmetics case with a mirror; to be carried in a woman's purse
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
ConfederacynounUS /kənˈfedərəsi/
the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
contemptibleadjectiveUS /kənˈtemptəbəl/
deserving of contempt or scorn
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
DELIVERANCEnounUS /dɪˈlɪvərəns/
recovery or preservation from loss or danger
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
demonstratedadjectiveUS /ˈdemənstreɪtɪd/
having been demonstrated or verified beyond doubt
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
denouncedverbUS /dɪˈnaʊnst/
past form of “denounce” — speak out against
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
ExaminernounUS /ɪɡˈzæmənər/
someone who administers a test to determine your qualifications
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
far-reaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
favoritismnounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪtɪzəm/
an inclination to favor some person or group
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
fortunesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
the head of a state government
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
illumineverb
make lighter or brighter
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
LeenounUS /liː/
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
Letcher's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
a particular point in time
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
organizernounUS /ˈɔːrɡənaɪzər/
a person who brings order and organization to an enterprise
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/
the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading The contemptible assault of the Richmond _Examiner_ fell harmless from the armor of his genius.
put a saddle on
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
strategynounUS /ˈstrætədʒi/
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DELIVERANCE From the moment Davis placed Lee in the saddle order slowly emerged from chaotic conditions and the first rays of light began to illumine the fortunes of the Confederacy.
unassumingadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈsuːmɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading Modest and unassuming in his personality, he demonstrated from the first his skill as an organizer and his power in the conception and execution of far-reaching strategy.
a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading From the moment he breathed his spirit into the army he made it a rapid, compact, accurate and terrible engine of war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Davis was bitterly denounced for his favoritism in passing G. W. Smith and appointing Governor Letcher's pet.
