used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
react verbally
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
commandantnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
an opposing military force
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
hardshipnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪp/
a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
not in action or at work
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
Kitchener's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading I thought I might learn something."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I thought I might learn something."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I thought I might learn something."
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading The next stage in Kitchener's career was picturesque but full of hardship.
straightforwardadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd/
free from ambiguity
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought I might learn something."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
unreadyadjective
not prepared or in a state of readiness; slow to understand or respond
From this reading He had indeed--if nothing more than the power of a thoroughly prepared enemy against an unready land.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "Please, sir," came the straightforward answer, "I understood that I should not be wanted for some time, and I could not be idle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why did you go off and join the French army?" he was asked by the commandant.
