used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
BILL'SnounUS /bɪlz/
possessive form of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading BUFFALO BILL’S DEFENSE.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
BUFFALOnounUS /ˈbʌfəloʊ/
large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains
From this reading BUFFALO BILL’S DEFENSE.
CantonnounUS /ˈkæntən/
a city on the Zhu Jiang delta in southern China; the capital of Guangdong province and a major deep-water port
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
commandantnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
gotten under control
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
DEFENSEnounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading BUFFALO BILL’S DEFENSE.
dispatchesnounUS /dɪˈspætʃɪz/
plural of “dispatch” — an official report (usually sent in haste)
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
divisible by two
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
fortsnounUS /fɔːrts/
plural of “fort” — a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
frontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
and nothing more
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
information about recent and important events
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
orderlynounUS /ˈɔːrdərli/
a soldier who serves as an attendant to a superior officer
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
in the near future
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
thereinadverbUS /ðeˈrɪn/
(formal) in or into that thing or place
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
arousing affect
From this reading Touching a small bell, an orderly soon appeared at the door.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In his private quarters at the fort sat General Canton, the commandant of the chain of forts upon the far frontier.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was engaged in reading dispatches just arrived, and his brow was dark, his look troubled, as though the news therein contained was not pleasant.
(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 Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Around the general were signs of comfort, and even luxury, for his quarters were well furnished, and books and musical instruments were there with which to while away leisure moments.
