used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading On this account the Cossacks were not idle.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They dug therefore all night after the storm.
(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 They dug therefore all night after the storm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
without stop or interruption
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
CossacksnounUS /ˈkɑːsæks/
plural of “cossack” — a member of a Slavic people living in southern European Russia and Ukraine and adjacent parts of Asia and noted for their horsemanship and military skill; they formed an elite cavalry corps in czarist Russia
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
the first light of day
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading They dug therefore all night after the storm.
earthworks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
start firing a weapon
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
not in action or at work
From this reading On this account the Cossacks were not idle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
engage in
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They dug therefore all night after the storm.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On this account the Cossacks were not idle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On this account the Cossacks were not idle.
on one occasion
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
PolesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
with low volume
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
rampartsnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrts/
plural of “rampart” — an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
renderverbUS /ˈrendər/
cause to become
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading They dug therefore all night after the storm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading They dug therefore all night after the storm.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They dug therefore all night after the storm.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On this account the Cossacks were not idle.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading The Poles had to raise new ramparts to render the earthworks of the Cossacks useless and make defence easier for their own reduced forces.
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 Having approached quietly in the dark night between Thursday and Friday, they threw up a second and much higher wall around the camp.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On this account the Cossacks were not idle.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading All shouted at dawn, and began to fire at once, and four whole days and nights they continued firing.
