used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
(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 A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
beefnounUS /biːf/
cattle that are reared for their meat
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
boltsnounUS /boʊlts/
plural of “bolt” — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
bullynounUS /ˈbʊli/
a cruel and brutal fellow
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The next function would be dinner.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
functionnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃən/
(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading The next function would be dinner.
usually; as a rule
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
engage in
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
a particular point in time
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next function would be dinner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
stewverbUS /stuː/
be in a huff; be silent or sullen
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading A few stiff bolts at a critical moment might make all the difference.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
STRAIGHTENverbUS /ˈstreɪtən/
straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
in or at that place or location
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This generally consisted of bully beef made into a sort of stew, and some potatoes, stolen from a field near by.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
precisely as stated
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading They had always to be very careful that the rifles were in proper working order.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE Later in the morning there would probably be an inspection of arms.
