flanked
Stood at edges
Flanked means positioned at the side of something, or to have been at the side: The president entered, flanked by Secret Service agents.
The word comes from military usage—to flank an enemy is to attack from the side rather than head-on.
Architecture and description use it for things arranged symmetrically: The fireplace was flanked by tall windows.
Lateral portion of something
edged · abutted · neighboring · parallel · contiguous · juxtaposed · bracketed · framed
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- envelopmentAct of surrounding completely
- pincerGrasping claw organ
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
formation · advance · assault · encirclement · skirmish · infantry · cavalry · artillery
Upright structural shafts
- pillarsLoad-bearing vertical structures
- towersTall vertical structures
- wingsLimbs for flight
- gatesMovable barriers at openings
statues · buttresses · porticos · facades · entrances · doorways · monuments · sentinels
Wary and restrained
- accompaniedWent along with someone
- protectedKept from harm
- attendedWas at an event
- surroundedBounded on all sides
secured · shielded · watched · covered · chaperoned · shepherded · ushered · conveyed
side
Lateral portion of something
bordered · edged · abutted · neighboring · parallel · contiguous · juxtaposed · bracketed · framed · sandwiched
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- envelopmentAct of surrounding completely
- pincerGrasping claw organ
ambush · formation · advance · assault · encirclement · skirmish · infantry · cavalry · artillery · battlefield
columns
Upright structural shafts
gates · statues · buttresses · porticos · facades · entrances · doorways · monuments · sentinels · obelisks
guarded
Wary and restrained
- accompaniedWent along with someone
- protectedKept from harm
- attendedWas at an event
surrounded · secured · shielded · watched · covered · chaperoned · shepherded · ushered · conveyed · bodyguard
- companionshipaccompanied, unaccompanied, together, alone, solo
flankedalone
Without others present
solitary · isolated · unaccompanied · unattended · unescorted
flankeddefended
Shielded from harm
exposed · protected · unprotected · shielded · vulnerable
- flank steakBeef from abdominal muscles
- left flankFormation's leftmost section
- flanking maneuverAttack from the side
- flank attackAssault on the side
- right flankMilitary unit's eastward edge
- flank speedNaval maximum velocity
flank, flanking, outflank, flanks, flanker, flankers, outflanking, outflanked