used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An insufficient commissariat tried the constitution of the hardiest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
antipodeanadjective
relating to the antipodes or situated at opposite sides of the earth
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
ceaselessadjectiveUS /ˈsiːslɪs/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
commissariatnoun
a stock or supply of foods
From this reading An insufficient commissariat tried the constitution of the hardiest.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading An insufficient commissariat tried the constitution of the hardiest.
creeksnounUS /kriːks/
plural of “creek” — a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
deadliestadjectiveUS /ˈdedliəst/
superlative of “deadly” — causing or capable of causing death
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
an opposing military force
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
flaxnounUS /flæks/
fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
fordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
hardiestadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdiəst/
superlative of “hardy” — having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading An insufficient commissariat tried the constitution of the hardiest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
From this reading An insufficient commissariat tried the constitution of the hardiest.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
knee-deepadjective
coming only to the ankle or knee
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
marksmennounUS /ˈmɑːrksmen/
plural of “marksman” — someone skilled in shooting
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
Massinger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
mid-winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
oddsnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An insufficient commissariat tried the constitution of the hardiest.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
an amount of time
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
regularsnounUS /ˈreɡjələrz/
plural of “regular” — a regular patron
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
revolutionaryadjectiveUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃəneri/
markedly new or introducing radical change
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
in the near future
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
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 Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
up to a particular time
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading An insufficient commissariat tried the constitution of the hardiest.
soldiers collectively
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
precisely as stated
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
volunteersnounUS /ˌvɑːlənˈtɪrz/
plural of “volunteer” — (military) a person who freely enlists for service
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
wadeverbUS /weɪd/
walk (through relatively shallow water)
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The campaign dragged on till June, the antipodean mid-winter, was reached.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Massinger was now in a position to comprehend thoroughly the fearful odds against which the British regulars fought in the American revolutionary war.
belonging to which person
From this reading There they confronted an enemy whose very children, as soon as they were strong enough to lift the long rifle of the period, were the deadliest of marksmen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dark were the long cold nights, ceaseless the rain, as the troops and volunteers struggled through forests knee-deep in mud, with creeks to ford and flax swamps to wade through.
