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 They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

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

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

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

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

inflected form of “bite” — to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

offensive term for a person of German descent

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

with boldness, in a bold manner

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

plural of “bomb” — an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

befitting or characteristic of a young boy

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

the occurrence of a change for the worse

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

marked for certain death

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

an opposing military force

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

communicated in words

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

preferred above all others and treated with partiality

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

the act of fighting; any contest or struggle

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

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

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

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

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

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

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

invulnerable to fear or intimidation

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

a small worthless amount

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

immediately past

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

plural of “raider” — someone who takes spoils or plunder (as in war)

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

acting with less concern for yourself than for the success of the joint activity

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The end seemed to be approaching, for the Boche plainly showed he had had enough of the fighting.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

in the near future

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

a strongly fortified defensive structure

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

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

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

hard to endure

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

the act of using

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

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

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading FAVORED BY FORTUNE THE Huns soon discovered that they were up against an intrepid enemy.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading If their last stronghold was doomed to destruction under that rain of mighty bombs, any self-sacrifice on their part could not ward it off, and so what was the use?

at the time that

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."

in the company of; together with

From this reading They had dropped back a bit and were trying to annoy the Americans all they could with as little damage to themselves as possible.

an American who lives in the North (especially during the American Civil War)

From this reading When they so boldly attacked the Yankee fleet of raiders, as Jack expressed it in his boyish way, they had "bitten off more than they could chew."