used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
(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 Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE HULK.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
a state at a particular time
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
a quad with a square body
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
the act of giving
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
HULKnounUS /hʌlk/
a very large person; impressive in size or qualities
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE HULK.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
of the present time and place
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
JimmyverbUS /ˈdʒɪmi/
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
engage in
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
not any; not one
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE HULK.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
repeatingnounUS /rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/
the act of doing or performing again
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
move hurridly
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
be standing; be upright
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE HULK.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
(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 Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was an immediate rush for the guns, which had been placed in a corner of the cabin.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading From the actions of the scouts, it could be imagined that no one dreamed of giving in, without a desperate resistance.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Seven of us, all told, and well armed at that, ought to be able to do the work.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading "If we do have to stand 'em off," declared Jimmy, as he examined his repeating rifle, in order to make sure that it was in condition for business; "sure we couldn't ask for a better fort than this same old wreck.
