used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
in addition
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
announcingverbUS /əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/
-ing form of “announce” — make known; make an announcement
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
baconnounUS /ˈbeɪkən/
back and sides of a hog salted and dried or smoked; usually sliced thin and fried
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
make calm or still
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
the first light of day
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
a long fixed look
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading They were General Lee and Mr. Sefton.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
death of a person
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
and nothing more
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
LeenounUS /liː/
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading They were General Lee and Mr. Sefton.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
messagesnounUS /ˈmesədʒəz/
plural of “message” — a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
a form of address for a man
From this reading They were General Lee and Mr. Sefton.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
not any; not one
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
not one, and not any
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
potnounUS /pɑːt/
metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
REVIVALnounUS /rɪˈvaɪvəl/
bringing again into activity and prominence
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
Sefton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were General Lee and Mr. Sefton.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
stripsnounUS /strɪps/
plural of “strip” — a relatively long narrow piece of something
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
express in words
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Secretary had arrived from Richmond just before the dawn with messages of importance, and none could tell them with more easy grace than he.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were General Lee and Mr. Sefton.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
unembarrassedadjective
not embarrassed
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading He was quite unembarrassed now as he sat in the presence of the great General, announcing the wishes of the Government--wishes which lost no weight in the telling, and whether he was speaking or not he watched the man before him with a stealthy gaze that nothing escaped.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE GREAT REVIVAL Two men sat early the next morning in a tent with a pot of coffee and a breakfast of strips of bacon between them.
youngishadjective
somewhat young
From this reading One was elderly, calm and grave, and his face was known well to the army; the other was youngish, slight, dark and also calm, and the soldiers were not familiar with his face.
