used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
in addition
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
Benson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
DEERnounUS /dɪr/
distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
From this reading DEER HUNTING.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "You'll do first-rate in a little while," he said.
especialadjectiveUS /əˈspeʃəl/
surpassing what is common or usual or expected
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
first-rateadjectiveUS /ˌfɜːrˈstreɪt/
of the highest quality
From this reading "You'll do first-rate in a little while," he said.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
at a previous time
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading DEER HUNTING.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "You'll do first-rate in a little while," he said.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
many times at short intervals
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You'll do first-rate in a little while," he said.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
shootingnounUS /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
targetnounUS /ˈtɑːrɡət/
a reference point to shoot at
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Old Benson remained at the fort for the time being, and did what he could to please the boys.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "You'll do first-rate in a little while," he said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With his brother at hand, Joe felt much more at home than formerly, and the captain's presence also made a difference to his cousin.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He took an especial interest in their shooting, and would often set up a target on the prairie for them to practice on.
You'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You'll do first-rate in a little while," he said.
