used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
AdjutantnounUS /ˈædʒətənt/
an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
ashnounUS /æʃ/
the residue that remains when something is burned
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
astutenessnounUS /əˈstuːtnəs/
intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings)
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
blackestadjectiveUS /ˈblækəst/
superlative of “black” — being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
brandy-and-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over cigars and brandy-and-water the case was thrashed out....
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Over cigars and brandy-and-water the case was thrashed out....
cherootnoun
a cigar with both ends cut flat
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
cigarsnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːrz/
plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Over cigars and brandy-and-water the case was thrashed out....
ConfrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
deadly-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
disciplinariannounUS /ˌdɪsɪplɪˈneriən/
someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/
a specially long, formal letter
From this reading Perusing her epistle, Josh’s troop-Captain whistled plaintively.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Perusing her epistle, Josh’s troop-Captain whistled plaintively.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
an opening into or through something
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
Josh's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perusing her epistle, Josh’s troop-Captain whistled plaintively.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
maintainingverbUS /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “maintain” — cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
joined in matrimony
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
minoradjectiveUS /ˈmaɪnər/
of lesser importance or stature or rank
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
not any; not one
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
offensesnounUS /əˈfensɪz/
plural of “offense” — a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Over cigars and brandy-and-water the case was thrashed out....
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over cigars and brandy-and-water the case was thrashed out....
PerusingnounUS /pərˈuːzɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading Perusing her epistle, Josh’s troop-Captain whistled plaintively.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
plaintivelyadverbUS /ˈpleɪntaɪvli/
in a plaintive manner
From this reading Perusing her epistle, Josh’s troop-Captain whistled plaintively.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
estrangement from god
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
soldier'snounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/
possessive form of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
thrashedverbUS /θræʃt/
past form of “thrash” — give a thrashing to; beat hard
From this reading Over cigars and brandy-and-water the case was thrashed out....
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
toughnessnounUS /ˈtʌfnəs/
enduring strength and energy
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
Trichinopoly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
troop-Captain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perusing her epistle, Josh’s troop-Captain whistled plaintively.
two-inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
precisely as stated
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the crime of getting married “off the strength” was in those days, as it is in these, the blackest sin upon the soldier’s list of minor offenses.
well-earned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading Perusing her epistle, Josh’s troop-Captain whistled plaintively.
which person or people
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Confronted with a problem of no ordinary toughness, the Captain betook himself and his difficulty to the Adjutant, an elderly officer of astuteness and experience, who, while maintaining a well-earned reputation as a rigid disciplinarian, had a heart in the right place.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “’Man is, as I understand you, in the very devil of a tight hole,” said the Adjutant, knocking a two-inch ash off a long, dry, deadly-looking Trichinopoly cheroot.
