Unit 7: The Star-Spangled Banner (full text)

Francis Scott Key's contribution to American heritage and ball games everywhere, our National Anthem, decoded.
25 words 2647 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. hail
    greet enthusiastically or joyfully
    What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
  2. gleaming
    a flash of light
    What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
  3. broad
    wide in scope or content
    Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
  4. perilous
    fraught with danger
    Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
  5. rampart
    an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
    O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming!
  6. gallantly
    in a heroic or brave manner
    O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming!
  7. spangle
    glitter as if covered with shiny material
    Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
  8. banner
    any distinctive flag
    Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
  9. foe
    an armed adversary
    Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
  10. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
  11. host
    a person who invites guests to a social event
    Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
  12. dread
    fearful expectation or anticipation
    Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
  13. repose
    relax or recline in a comfortable resting position
    Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
  14. tower
    appear very large or occupy a commanding position
    What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
  15. conceal
    prevent from being seen or discovered
    As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
  16. disclose
    expose to view as by removing a cover
    As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
  17. gleam
    a flash of light
    Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
  18. glory
    brilliant, radiant beauty
    In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;
  19. foul
    highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
    Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
  20. pollution
    contamination of the natural environment
    Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
  21. refuge
    a shelter from danger or hardship
    No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
  22. hireling
    a person who works only for money
    No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
  23. triumph
    the exultation of victory
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
  24. desolation
    an event that results in total destruction
    Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
  25. motto
    a favorite saying of a sect or political group
    And this be our motto:-- "In God is our trust!"
Created on Mon Apr 23 12:29:26 EDT 2012 (updated Mon Aug 04 15:09:31 EDT 2014)

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