1777
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
all-importantadjective
of the greatest importance
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
ardentadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrdənt/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
bearernounUS /ˈberər/
someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
Benson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
CHAPTERSnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading The Landing of the Enemy SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
dispatchverbUS /dɪˈspætʃ/
send away towards a designated goal
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
an opposing military force
From this reading The Landing of the Enemy SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
forwardedverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərdɪd/
past form of “forward” — send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
Hadley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
Jonas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading The Landing of the Enemy SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
MorrisnounUS /ˈmɔːrəs/
United States suffragist in Wyoming (1814-1902)
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
OaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Landing of the Enemy SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
opensnounUS /ˈoʊpənz/
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
patriotnounUS /ˈpeɪtriət/
one who loves and defends his or her country
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
PhiladelphianounUS /ˌfɪləˈdelfiə/
the largest city in Pennsylvania; located in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware river; site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; site of the University of Pennsylvania
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The Landing of the Enemy SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
RevolutionnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/
a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
sympathizernounUS /ˈsɪmpəθaɪzər/
a person who commiserates with someone who has had misfortune
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
SYNOPSISnounUS /sɪˈnɑːpsɪs/
a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
From this reading The Landing of the Enemy SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Landing of the Enemy SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
at the time that
From this reading When, therefore, a dispatch bearer is captured on the way to Philadelphia, he gives Hadley the all-important packet to be forwarded to General Washington.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Like most of his neighbors, Hadley is an ardent sympathizer with the patriot cause.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The story opens in the year of 1777, during one of the most critical periods of the Revolution.
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 Hadley Morris, our hero, is in the employ of Jonas Benson, the host of the Three Oaks, a well-known inn on the road between Philadelphia and New York.
