used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading CHAUNCEY HAS AN IDEA.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
from appearances alone
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
cadetsnounUS /kəˈdets/
plural of “cadet” — a military trainee (as at a military academy)
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
CHAUNCEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAUNCEY HAS AN IDEA.
carefully weighed
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
discouragedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɜːrədʒd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
disgustedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡʌstəd/
having a strong distaste from surfeit
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
good-bynoun
a farewell remark
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CHAUNCEY HAS AN IDEA.
hauledverbUS /hɔːld/
past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading CHAUNCEY HAS AN IDEA.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
illumineverb
make lighter or brighter
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
manufactureverbUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃər/
put together out of artificial or natural components or parts
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
and nothing more
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
plebes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was only one possibility to be considered, apparently--they would be hauled up in the police court the next morning and required to give an account of themselves.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There wasn’t a ray of hope, any more than a ray of light to illumine that dark cell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading If they gave it, said they were cadets, it would be good-by West Point; for they had broken a dozen rules.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Three more utterly discouraged and disgusted plebes than our friends would be hard to manufacture.
