used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
anew
From this reading Now the trees are green again.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
alternatesnounUS /ˈɔːltərneɪts/
plural of “alternate” — someone who takes the place of another person
From this reading Our life alternates between billets and the front.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now the trees are green again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Our life alternates between billets and the front.
billetsnounUS /ˈbɪləts/
plural of “billet” — a short personal letter
From this reading Our life alternates between billets and the front.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
cancernounUS /ˈkænsər/
any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
clods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading We count the weeks no more.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
dysenterynounUS /ˈdɪsənteri/
an infection of the intestines marked by severe diarrhea
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
explodedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsploʊdəd/
showing the parts of something separated but in positions that show their correct relation to one another
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Our life alternates between billets and the front.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Now the trees are green again.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
influenzanounUS /ˌɪnfluːˈenzə/
an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
and nothing more
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Our life alternates between billets and the front.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading We count the weeks no more.
not any; not one
From this reading We count the weeks no more.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the trees are green again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our life alternates between billets and the front.
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We count the weeks no more.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Now the trees are green again.
tuberculosisnounUS /təˌbɜːrkjəˈloʊsɪs/
infection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions (usually in the lungs but in various other parts of the body in acute stages)
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is a cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We count the weeks no more.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading We count the weeks no more.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
at the time that
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was winter when I came up, and when the shells exploded the frozen clods of earth were just as dangerous as the fragments.
