used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
AMBUSHverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
BenningtonnounUS /ˈbenɪŋtən/
a town in southwestern Vermont
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
Breckenridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
controversynounUS /ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi/
a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
ensuedverbUS /ɪnˈsuːd/
past form of “ensue” — issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
a social unit living together
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
to a considerable degree
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
invadersnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdərz/
plural of “invader” — someone who enters by force in order to conquer
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
come together
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
the force of workers available
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
naughtnounUS /nɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
on one occasion
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
oustverbUS /aʊst/
remove from a position or office
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
rightfuladjectiveUS /ˈraɪtfəl/
legally valid
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
Sancock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
sheriffnounUS /ˈʃerəf/
the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
speculatorsnounUS /ˈspekjəleɪtərz/
plural of “speculator” — someone who makes conjectures without knowing the facts
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
Twenty-Mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
at the time that
From this reading Some of the Bennington men had arrived at the farm the evening before when news went forth that the invaders were only seven miles away, at Sancock.
whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Breckenridge had sent his family to the settlement in expectation of this trouble, while he and his neighbors made ready to meet the sheriff and his army.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading THE AMBUSH The house of James Breckenridge was built at the foot of a slight ridge of land running east and west, which ridge was heavily wooded.
wordyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrdi/
using or containing too many words
From this reading Once before had an attempt been made by the grasping land speculators of the sister colony to oust its rightful owner, but at that time naught but a wordy controversy had ensued, whereas the present attack bade fair to be more serious.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading It was only a mile from the Twenty-Mile Line and therefore particularly open to attack by the New York authorities.
