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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 THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
adopted
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From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
all-important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
attack
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From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
away
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From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
became
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From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
blindly
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From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
brave
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From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
companions
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From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
contingent
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From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
crackling
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From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
dashing
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From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
desperate
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From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
eating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
erstwhile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
fighting
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From this reading He had heard much of the fighting qualities of the Hadendowas.
FINDING
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From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/
an action or decision that shows a lack of good judgment
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
fray
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From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had heard much of the fighting qualities of the Hadendowas.
Hadendowas
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From this reading He had heard much of the fighting qualities of the Hadendowas.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
heard
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From this reading He had heard much of the fighting qualities of the Hadendowas.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
instinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
Judging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
Kerber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
lengthening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
lives
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From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
manner
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From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
much
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From this reading He had heard much of the fighting qualities of the Hadendowas.
musketry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
plight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
qualities
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From this reading He had heard much of the fighting qualities of the Hadendowas.
ran
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From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
realized
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From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
relieving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
repelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
risk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
Royson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
smaller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
soldier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
steady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
throwing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
training
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
TREASURE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.
uselessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
warned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the plight of his erstwhile companions must be desperate--though the lengthening shadows warned him that the time ran short--it was all-important that he should learn the manner and direction of the attack, and the means adopted by von Kerber for repelling it, ere the presence of the relieving force became known.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were brave, but they were not given to throwing their lives away uselessly.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE FINDING OF THE TREASURE Royson, a soldier by instinct if not by training, realized the folly of dashing blindly into a fray the nature of which was hidden from him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Judging by the steady crackling of musketry, they were "eating up" the smaller contingent with the least possible risk to themselves.