used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Willis was at the parapet.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Meantime the fusillade from both sides continued.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Meantime the fusillade from both sides continued.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading "Look out!" he cries.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
fusilladenounUS /ˈfjuːsɪleɪd/
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
From this reading Meantime the fusillade from both sides continued.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Look out!" he cries.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
and nothing more
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Look out!" he cries.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading Meantime the fusillade from both sides continued.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
on one occasion
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Look out!" he cries.
parapetnounUS /ˈperəpet/
a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
From this reading Willis was at the parapet.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
rampartnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrt/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
rebelsnounUS /ˈrebəlz/
plural of “rebel” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Meantime the fusillade from both sides continued.
skirmishnounUS /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/
a minor short-term fight
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
spadenounUS /speɪd/
a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A shell passed just above us, and at once a shower of bullets from the rebels.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
wieldedverbUS /ˈwiːldɪd/
past form of “wield” — have and exercise
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
WillisnounUS /ˈwɪlɪs/
English physician who was a pioneer in the study of the brain (1621-1675)
From this reading Willis was at the parapet.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The spade was wielded vigorously by willing hands, passing from one to another, until a low rampart, but thick, would protect our heads from the fire of our skirmish line.
