used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading But the darkness was their principal shield.
the act of discovering something
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
divisible by two
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
the act of retaining something
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
lullverbUS /lʌl/
calm by deception
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
the force of workers available
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
napnounUS /næp/
a period of time spent sleeping
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
NapoleonnounUS /nəˈpoʊliən/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading But the darkness was their principal shield.
reservesnounUS /rɪˈzɜːrvz/
civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
express in words
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading But the darkness was their principal shield.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
carry out
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up.
which person or people
From this reading It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their lives in their hands.
