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150,000
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
50,000
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
advantages
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
AgainstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
all
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
apparent
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
arms
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
battle
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From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
BIRMINGHAM
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From this reading FALL OF BIRMINGHAM.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
British
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From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
combat
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
contested
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From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
deadly
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
defending
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
defensive
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
desperately
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From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
Empire
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From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
engagement
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From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
FALL
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From this reading FALL OF BIRMINGHAM.
fearful
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
fierce
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From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
fight
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
fighting
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
force
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From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
furious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
invaders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
magnificent
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
majority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
moment
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
necessarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
numbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
occurred
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From this reading No more desperately contested engagement had ever occurred in the history of the British Empire.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FALL OF BIRMINGHAM.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
overwhelming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
positions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
possessing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
Russians
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
sides
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From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
struggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The battle outside Birmingham was long, fierce, and furious.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Against a defending force of 50,000 of all arms, 150,000 invaders--the majority of whom were Russians--were now fighting, and the combat was necessarily long and deadly.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading From the very first moment of the fight it was apparent that the struggle would be a fearful one, both sides possessing advantages; the British by reason of the magnificent defensive positions they occupied, and the Russians by reason of their overwhelming numbers.
