used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
belongsverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋz/
third-person singular of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
bottomlessadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːtəmləs/
extremely deep
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
BremennounUS /ˈbremən/
a city of northwestern Germany linked by the Weser River to the port of Bremerhaven and the North Sea; in the Middle Ages it was a leading member of the Hanseatic League
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
broad-shoulderedadjective
having broad shoulders
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
citizensnounUS /ˈsɪtəzənz/
plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
divisible by two
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
GenoanounUS /ˈdʒenoʊə/
a seaport in northwestern Italy; provincial capital of Liguria
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
Grunwald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
HamburgnounUS /ˈhæmbərɡ/
a port city in northern Germany on the Elbe River that was founded by Charlemagne in the 9th century and is today the largest port in Germany; in 1241 it formed an alliance with Lubeck that became the basis for the Hanseatic League
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
Hanse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
hard-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
hatrednounUS /ˈheɪtrəd/
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
honoredadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnərd/
having an illustrious reputation; respected
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
implicitlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈplɪsətli/
without doubting or questioning
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
of great significance or value
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
justlyadverbUS /ˈdʒʌstli/
with honesty
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
LeaguenounUS /liːɡ/
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
libertiesnounUS /ˈlɪbərtiːz/
plural of “liberty” — immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
LubecknounUS /ˈluːbek/
a city in northwestern Germany and an important Baltic port; a leading member of the Hanseatic League
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
portsnounUS /pɔːrts/
plural of “port” — a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
privilegesnounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒəz/
plural of “privilege” — a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
any competition
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
rampartsnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrts/
plural of “rampart” — an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
rivalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
get by special effort
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
swampsnounUS /swɑːmps/
plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
thoroughadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːroʊ/
painstakingly careful and accurate
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
VenicenounUS /ˈvenəs/
the provincial capital of Veneto; built on 118 islands within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice; has canals instead of streets; one of Italy's major ports and a famous tourist attraction
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading It had been an honored member of the great Hanse League, and rivalled Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck in wealth and power.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Its ships sailed on all the northern seas, and the Grunwald flag was well known even in the ports of Genoa and Venice.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The citizens were a broad-shouldered, hard-headed race, strong in their love and their hatred, and thorough in all their ways.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The town of Grunwald played, in days previous to those to which this story belongs, a far more important part than now.
but in spite of that
From this reading They were justly proud of their liberties and their privileges, and trusted implicitly in their secure position, amid the ocean and bottomless swamps, and the high walls and ramparts of the city, but more fully yet in the sword by their side and the brave heart in their bosom.
