used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
AmericansnounUS /əˈmerəkənz/
plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
automaticallyadverbUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
in a reflex manner
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
construedverbUS /kənˈstruːd/
past form of “construe” — make sense of; assign a meaning to
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
Darrin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
DISOBEDIENCEnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiəns/
the failure to obey
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
EnsignnounUS /ˈensən/
a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
falterverbUS /ˈfɔːltər/
be unsure or weak
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
HicksnounUS /hɪks/
plural of “hick” — a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
the force of workers available
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
not any; not one
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
OutnumberedverbUS /ˌaʊtˈnʌmbərd/
past form of “outnumber” — be larger in number
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
sailorsnounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
except for; apart from
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading For a moment Ensign Darrin felt sick at heart.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS Outnumbered, the Americans did not falter.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was under orders not to fire, to employ no armed force in a way that might be construed as an act of war in the country of another nation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
people who are wounded
From this reading Save for Hicks, the guide, and the wounded man, the sailors threw themselves automatically to one knee, bringing their rifles to "ready."
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet here were his men being fired upon, one already wounded, and American women and children in danger of losing their lives.
