used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
for the reason that
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
bulldogverbUS /ˈbʊldɔːɡ/
attack viciously and ferociously
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
bustedadjectiveUS /ˈbʌstɪd/
out of working order (“busted” is an informal substitute for “broken”)
From this reading Twice he had been busted to corporal and twice regained his stripes.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
choosingverbUS /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
commissionnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
corporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/
a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
From this reading Twice he had been busted to corporal and twice regained his stripes.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Twice he had been busted to corporal and twice regained his stripes.
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
muddle-through
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
on one occasion
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Twice he had been busted to corporal and twice regained his stripes.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
Roscoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
stripesnounUS /straɪps/
V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service
From this reading Twice he had been busted to corporal and twice regained his stripes.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He belonged to the regular Army and had never thought of choosing any other career.
a just detectable amount
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
two times
From this reading Twice he had been busted to corporal and twice regained his stripes.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had an Irish temper, and that was from his mother; he had a bulldog English muddle-through determination, and that was from his father.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once he had been up for a commission and had, after due thought, refused it, because he'd known he wouldn't have it long.
a late time of life
From this reading Trace Roscoe had been a sergeant, off and on, for nine years.
