Question

select the correct answer.
in this excerpt from the poem \old ironsides\ by oliver wendell holmes, what is the meaning of the word tread?
her deck, once red with heroes blood
where knelt the vanquished foe,
when winds were hurrying oer the flood
and waves were white below,
no more shall feel the victors tread,
or know the conquered knee;—

a. crush
b. pace
c. quell
d. trudge
e. march

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "tread" in the poem, we analyze the context. The line "No more shall feel the victor’s tread" refers to the deck of the ship no longer feeling the victor's steps. Among the options, "pace" (a step or walk) fits best. "Crush" and "quell" imply forceful actions, "trudge" is a heavy walk (less fitting here), and "march" is more formal. "Pace" aligns with the idea of the victor’s footsteps on the deck.

Answer:

B. pace