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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
air
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From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
airship
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From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
all
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From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
Americans
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From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
ammunition
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From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
battle
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From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
BloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
came
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From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
cost
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From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
death
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From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
destruction
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From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
down
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From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
empty
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From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
facing
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From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
flames
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From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
gale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
game
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
Germans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
haply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
Iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
Island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
mad
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From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
Manhattan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
onset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
Philadelphia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
price
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
Prince
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
realised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
sentinel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
sick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
squadrons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
thundernounUS /ˈthunder/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
tilt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
Trenton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the dim light before night or sunrise
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
Washington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Germans, sick and weary with destruction, and half empty of ammunition, were facing up into the weather when the news of this onset reached them.
wings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came from the yards of Washington and Philadelphia, full tilt in two squadrons, and but for one sentinel airship hard by Trenton, the surprise would have been complete.
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Americans had realised the price their waiting game must cost, and struck with all the strength they had, if haply they might still save New York from this mad Prince of Blood and Iron, and from fire and death.