used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading "That's right," agreed Tom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
an occurrence of something
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
chargesnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrdʒəz/
plural of “charge” — an impetuous rush toward someone or something
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
concussionnounUS /kənˈkʌʃən/
injury to the brain caused by a blow; usually resulting in loss of consciousness
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
detonateverbUS /ˈdetəneɪt/
cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And it was just French luck that it didn't go off," observed Jack.
explosiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsploʊsɪv/
serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading "And it was just French luck that it didn't go off," observed Jack.
a person of German nationality
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "And it was just French luck that it didn't go off," observed Jack.
the act of departing
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
a small worthless amount
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
and nothing more
From this reading "And it was just French luck that it didn't go off," observed Jack.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading "And it was just French luck that it didn't go off," observed Jack.
mechanismnounUS /ˈmekənɪzəm/
the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "And it was just French luck that it didn't go off," observed Jack.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "And it was just French luck that it didn't go off," observed Jack.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
PERILOUSadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "That's right," agreed Tom.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
separatelyadverbUS /ˈsepərətli/
apart from others
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's right," agreed Tom.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
male cat
From this reading FOR PERILOUS SERVICE Tom and Jack spent some little time looking at the strange German shell.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But in this case it had failed to work, and the shell, falling in a bed of soft sand, near some new buildings which were going up, had not been fired by concussion, as might have happened.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was of peculiar construction, arranged so that the two explosive charges would detonate together or separately, according as the mechanism was set.
