Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

(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 One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

large but transportable armament

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

close fighting during the culmination of a military attack

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

expletives used informally as intensifiers

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

past form of “conspire” — engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

the act of digging

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

suffering shame

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

an army unit large enough to sustain combat

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

plural of “dune” — a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

past form of “embitter” — cause to be bitter or resentful

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

a period of fourteen consecutive days

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

a long fixed look

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

with gloom

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

having no employment

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

to an unacceptable degree

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

a boy or man

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

the force of workers available

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

not in physical motion

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

lying face upward

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

soldiers collectively

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

unserviceable because necessary repairs have not been made

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading A whole fortnight had dragged by since the assault: a fortnight of idleness for the troops, embittered almost intolerably by a sense that the Fifth Division had disgraced itself.

belonging to which person

From this reading One regiment blamed another, and all conspired to curse the artillery--whose practice, by the way, had been brilliant throughout the siege.

English reformer who published attacks on George III and supported the rights of the American colonists (1727-1797)

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

people who are wounded

From this reading The two men lay supine on a cushion of coarse grass; the sergeant smoking and staring up at the sky, the corporal, with his sound hand clasping his wounded one behind his head, his gaze fixed gloomily between his knees and across the dunes, on the still unrepaired breach in San Sebastian.

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading 'I don't understand ye, lad,' said Sergeant Wilkes.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading 'Fast enough you'd understand, if you'd but look me in the face,' answered Corporal Sam, digging his heel into the sand.