used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
chief-of-staff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
carefully weighed
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
at any time
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
insubordinationnounUS /ˌɪnsəbɔːrdəˈneɪʃən/
defiance of authority
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
Loring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
engage in
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
not any; not one
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
paramountadjectiveUS /ˈperəmaʊnt/
having superior power and influence
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
reticentadjectiveUS /ˈretɪsənt/
temperamentally disinclined to talk
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
sleeplessadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpləs/
experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
precisely as stated
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
wiringnounUS /ˈwaɪrɪŋ/
a circuit of wires for the distribution of electricity
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
