used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
exhale hard
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
butt-end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
a person who is in charge
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
divisible by two
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
set up or found
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
gaolers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
cause to move by striking
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
hostagenounUS /ˈhɑːstɪdʒ/
a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
a particular point in time
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
Morin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
musketnounUS /ˈmʌskət/
a muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel; formerly used by infantrymen
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
NomadsnounUS /ˈnoʊmædz/
plural of “nomad” — a member of a people who have no permanent home but move about according to the seasons
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
and nothing more
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
participate in games or sport
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
free from harm or evil
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
cut with a saw
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
a general conscious awareness
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
in the near future
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
express in speech
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Nomads, when first they heard their prisoner speaking, were silent, expecting to be able to understand what he said.
at the time that
From this reading But when the report that you had seized upon their chief reached the ears of my gaolers, they postponed my execution so that I might play the part of hostage."
in the company of; together with
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
the words that are spoken
From this reading When, however, they found that they could not even catch the sense of his words, one of them hit him a violent blow with the butt-end of his musket as a hint to be silent.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The first thought of M. de Morin, as soon as he saw that only about a dozen yards separated him from his friends, was to speak to them.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are indeed good to come to my rescue," said he, "for one moment later and they would have shot me.
