20th
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
21st
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
matters of personal concern
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
in the past
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
attackersnounUS /əˈtækərz/
plural of “attacker” — someone who attacks
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
bayonetnounUS /ˈbeɪənet/
a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
Bretons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
captorsnounUS /ˈkæptərz/
plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
cheersnounUS /tʃɪrz/
plural of “cheer” — a cry or shout of approval
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
commandsnounUS /kəˈmændz/
plural of “command” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
a state at a particular time
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
CorpsnounUS /kɔːr/
an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
crescendoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
give a description of
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
detonationsnounUS /ˌdetəˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “detonation” — a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
Douaumont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
an opposing military force
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
eventfuladjectiveUS /ɪˈventfəl/
full of events or incidents
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
explodingverbUS /ɪkˈsploʊdɪŋ/
-ing form of “explode” — cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
ferociousadjectiveUS /fərˈoʊʃəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
unflinching in battle or action
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
Henri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
HeroicadjectiveUS /hɪˈroʊɪk/
very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
hoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
intermittentadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
stopping and starting at irregular intervals
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
Jules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
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 The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
machine-guns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
the force of workers available
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
not divisible by two
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
participatedverbUS /pɑːrˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/
past form of “participate” — share in something
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
Poilus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
recurring again and again
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
rifle-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
salientadjectiveUS /ˈseɪliənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
sectionsnounUS /ˈsekʃənz/
plural of “section” — a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
shrieksnounUS /ʃriːks/
plural of “shriek” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
trenchesnounUS /ˈtrentʃɪz/
plural of “trench” — a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
triumphantadjectiveUS /traɪˈʌmfənt/
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
VerdunnounUS /ˈvɜːrdən/
a battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stopped
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Such scenes we know had taken place inside the fort of Douaumont, for had not Jules and Henri participated in such an adventure on the stairway?
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And now they were being repeated--those scenes--in many an odd part of that fortress.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There had been many a silent, yet grimly ferocious struggle with the bayonet; when men stood outside their trenches or struggled with the enemy in what remained of their battered positions.
at the time that
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
which person or people
From this reading Heroic "Poilus" Who can describe the condition of affairs in the shattered fort of Douaumont on that night when the gallant Bretons of the 20th Corps hurled themselves against the captors of the position?
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
but in spite of that
From this reading The whole of the fighting round the salient of Verdun since that eventful 21st February--now seemingly so long ago, for so much had happened, yet in reality less than a week--had been marked by the incessant thunder of guns, the continuous detonations of exploding shells, the intermittent rattle of machine-guns, and by the crescendoes of rifle-fire mingled with the shouts and shrieks of men, the cheers of triumphant attackers, and the grim, hoarse commands of officers leading their sections.
