used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
(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 Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
axenounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
a state at a particular time
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
Dallas'snounUS /ˈdæləsɪz/
possessive form of “dallas” — a large commercial and industrial city in northeastern Texas located in the heart of the northern Texas oil fields
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
ferryverbUS /ˈferi/
transport from one place to another
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
hatchetnounUS /ˈhætʃət/
weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
hatchetsnounUS /ˈhætʃəts/
plural of “hatchet” — weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
of great significance or value
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
conformity or harmony
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
the force of workers available
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
organizeverbUS /ˈɔːrɡənaɪz/
create (as an entity)
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
Identical; not different.
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
selectadjectiveUS /səˈlekt/
of superior grade
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
a special situation
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Six of us had guns of some sort, Richard Field, Dallas's cook, was not armed at all.
precisely as stated
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We had one regular axe and a large camp hatchet, which was about the same as an axe, and several very small hatchets owned by the men.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading About the first thing we did was to organize and select a captain, and, very much against my wishes, I was chosen to this important position.
in the company of; together with
From this reading An examination of the old ferry boat showed it to be in pretty good condition, the sand with which it had been filled keeping it very perfectly.
worldlyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrldli/
characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
From this reading All our worldly goods were piled up on the bank, and we were alone.
