Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

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

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

(used in the plural) the stage of a theater

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

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

From this reading You can't manufacture an army by brigading regiments--by creating divisions and forming army corps.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

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

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

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

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

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

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support

From this reading You can't manufacture an army by brigading regiments--by creating divisions and forming army corps.

a sheath worn to protect a finger

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

a squeaking sound

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

-ing form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become

From this reading You can't manufacture an army by brigading regiments--by creating divisions and forming army corps.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

plural of “division” — an army unit large enough to sustain combat

From this reading You can't manufacture an army by brigading regiments--by creating divisions and forming army corps.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

the act of drilling

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

construct, build, or erect

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)

From this reading You can't manufacture an army by brigading regiments--by creating divisions and forming army corps.

set up or found

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

unpleasantly stern

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

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

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

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

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

ten 10s

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

in a petulant manner

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

put together out of artificial or natural components or parts

From this reading You can't manufacture an army by brigading regiments--by creating divisions and forming army corps.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

a large indefinite number

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

of or in or relating to the nose

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

above and across; more than

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

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

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

plural of “regiment” — army unit smaller than a division

From this reading You can't manufacture an army by brigading regiments--by creating divisions and forming army corps.

plural of “sabre” — a fencing sword with a v-shaped blade and a slightly curved handle

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

plural of “spur” — a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

not in physical motion

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

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

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

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

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

pitcher plant of southeastern United States having erect yellow trumpet-shaped pitchers with wide mouths and erect lids

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

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

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.

in a vertical position; not sloping

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Outside on the veranda a multitude of heavy steps echoed and re-echoed over the creaking boards; spurs clinked, sabres dragged and clanked; a man's harsh, nasal voice sounded irritably at intervals:

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

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

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

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

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

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

at the time that

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was still dark when he awoke with a violent start, dreaming of loud trumpets, and found himself sitting upright on his cot, staring into obscurity.

but in spite of that

From this reading "We're not an army--we're not yet an army; that's what's the matter.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You can't erect an army by uniforming and drilling a few hundred thousand clerks and farmers.