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The War in the Air
The War in the Air

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The War in the Air
Context Illustration Reading 1/118 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
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.
They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
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.
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.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The War in the Air

Chapter VII

Reading 1/118 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And then above the flames of Manhattan Island came a battle, the first battle in the air.
Line 2
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.
Line 3
They came down upon the Germans on the wings of a great gale in the twilight, amidst thunder and rain.
Line 4
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.
Line 5
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.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Above preposition US /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.”

Amidst preposition US /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.”

Been auxiliary verb US /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.”

Blood noun US /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.”

Complete noun US /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.”

First noun US /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.”

Great noun US /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.”

Half noun US /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.”

Have auxiliary verb US /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.”

Might modal verb US /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.”

Must modal verb US /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.”

One pronoun US /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.”

Save preposition US /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.”

Still noun US /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.”

Strength noun US /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.”

Struck noun US /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.”

Thunder noun US /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.”

Twilight noun US /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.”

Upon preposition US /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 noun US /ˈwaiting/

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.”

Would modal verb US /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.”

All words in this reading · 90

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

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

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.

airship

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.

all

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.

Americans

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

death

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.

destruction

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.

down

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.

empty

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.

facing

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.