Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

quickly and without warning

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

later than; following

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

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

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

showing who or what does the action

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

capability to perform or produce

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

A fortress protecting a city, metaphorically representing the invincible inner sanctuary of the rational mind.

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

in a clever manner

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

a steep high face of rock

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

a religious residence especially for nuns

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

a feeling of disliking something or what someone is doing

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

an opposing military force

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

a boy or man

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

the act of fighting; any contest or struggle

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

start firing a weapon

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

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

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

the force of workers available

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

a particular point in time

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

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

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

and nothing more

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

projection that extends beyond or hangs over something else

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

on the contrary

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

an instance of visual perception

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

an elevated geological formation

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

not in physical motion

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

take away possessions from someone

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

caught or fixed

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

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

From this reading Sort of a mud-nest it is, like a swallow's, stuck under overhang o' the cliff.

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

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

United States physicist (born in Hungary) who worked on the first atom bomb and the first hydrogen bomb (1908-2003)

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

Indian nun and missionary in the Roman Catholic Church (born of Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia); dedicated to helping the poor in India (1910-1997)

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

precisely as stated

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

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

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

during the time that

From this reading So, while his comrades guffawed, he rather cleverly changed the subject.

a Caucasian

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Corporal Sam Vicary, coming up to the edge of the camp-fire's light, stood there for a moment with a white face.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The cause of it--though it would have been a sufficient one--was not the story to which the men around the fire had been listening; for the teller, at sight of the corporal, had broken off abruptly, knowing him to be a religious fellow after a fashion, with a capacity for disapproval and a pair of fists to back it up.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'Oh, and by the way, talkin' of the convent'--he meant the Convent of Santa Teresa, a high building under the very slope of the citadel, protected by its guns and still held by the enemy, after three days' fighting--'do any of you know a small house to the left of it, with only a strip of garden between?