Chapter V · Chapter 5

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

(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'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

side by side

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

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

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

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

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

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

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

a boy or man

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

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

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

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

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

at any time

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

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

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

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

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

be the source of pain

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

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

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

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

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

and nothing more

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

engage in

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

attach a tag or label to

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

by chance

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

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

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

offensive or even (of persons) malicious

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

possessive form of “nothing” — a quantity of no importance

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

express in words

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

to move about or proceed hurriedly

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

(ethnic slur) offensive term for persons of Latin American descent

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

a transient variation in voltage or current

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

caught or fixed

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

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

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

in or at that place or location

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

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

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

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

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

precisely as stated

From this reading They'll scuttle away like rats if they can; but if they can't, they'll fight that savage that nothing's like it; and if it is to come to a fight, all I've got to say is, as the chap as hasn't got his cutlash as sharp as ever it can be made 'll be very sorry for it."

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

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

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

(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 "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

at the time that

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

in the company of; together with

From this reading Most everything's done with the big guns now; and if they do get alongside to board, why, a man's cutlash is always stuck at the end of his rifle, just as if it was a jolly's bag'net growed out o' knowledge, and then it's all spick and spike."

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

From this reading "Oh, I don't know," said another; "there won't be much cutlashing; 'tain't like it used to was in the old days.

the words that are spoken

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Well," said the man, "it's like this, messmet; they is and they arn't, if you can make that out.

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

From this reading "Maybe," said the man; "but you mark my words, they're a nasty lot when they gets wild, and you'll have to look pretty sharp if you don't want to get hurt."