used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
congratulatedverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/
past form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading FALSE REPORT.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
usually; as a rule
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
a man of refinement
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
the act of departing
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
groundlessadjectiveUS /ˈɡraʊndləs/
without a basis in reason or fact
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
inquiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
given to inquiry
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
in the recent past
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
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 A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
NAVALadjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading NAVAL PUN.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
PUNnounUS /pʌn/
a humorous play on words
From this reading NAVAL PUN.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading FALSE REPORT.
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
shirtsnounUS /ʃɜːrts/
plural of “shirt” — a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
carry out
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A gentleman meeting an old friend, whom he had not seen for a long time, congratulated him on lately coming to the possession of a large landed estate.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading A gentleman inquiring of a naval officer why sailors generally take off their shirts on going into action, was answered, that “they were unwilling to have any _check_ to fighting.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There was such a report,” replied the other; “but, if you will believe me, it was quite _groundless_.”
