Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

the supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

plural of “appropriation” — money set aside (as by a legislature) for a specific purpose

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

having or showing a feeling of mixed reverence and respect and wonder and dread

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

used of a height or viewpoint

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

in an impressively expansive manner

From this reading He waved his hands expansively.

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading He waved his hands expansively.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

-ing form of “ignore” — refuse to acknowledge

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

possessive form of “latter” — the second of two or the second mentioned of two

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading "More than a mile long, and wider than hell."

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

the ship's officer in charge of navigation

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

above and across; more than

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

with pride; in a proud manner

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

on the contrary

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

United States humorist remembered for his homespun commentary on politics and American society (1879-1935)

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

a member of a senate

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

transport commercially

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

a spacecraft designed to carry a crew into interstellar space (especially in science fiction)

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

look at with fixed eyes

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "More than a mile long, and wider than hell."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Her captain, six-star Admiral Heselton, thought of her as Great Big Joe, and never fully got over being awestruck at the size of his command.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

void of intelligence or thought

From this reading "She's a mighty big ship, Rogers," he said proudly to the navigator, ignoring the latter's rather vacant stare and fixed smile.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod

From this reading He waved his hands expansively.

at the time that

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading "More than a mile long, and wider than hell."

in the company of; together with

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _When you're commanding a spaceship over a mile long, and armed to the teeth, you don't exactly expect to be told to get the hell out ..._ The ship, for reasons that had to do with the politics of appropriations, was named Senator Joseph L. Holloway, but the press and the public called her Big Joe.