used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
CHATEAUnounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/
an impressive country house (or castle) in France
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Not quite yet, he decided.
disappointverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/
fail to meet the hopes or expectations of
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Was now the time to set off the mine field?
GermansnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmənz/
plural of “german” — a person of German nationality
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
Jacques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Was now the time to set off the mine field?
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not quite yet, he decided.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Was now the time to set off the mine field?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Was now the time to set off the mine field?
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Not quite yet, he decided.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
cut with a saw
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Was now the time to set off the mine field?
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
slitnounUS /slɪt/
a long narrow opening
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
theaternounUS /ˈθiːətər/
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Was now the time to set off the mine field?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Was now the time to set off the mine field?
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
in a violent manner
From this reading IN THE CHATEAU Jacques' hand shook violently as he took hold of the switch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He peered out through the narrow slit in his shelter and saw the Germans through the opening, almost as if he was looking behind the curtain of a theater.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Behind him he knew his comrades were expecting him to do his work right and he must not disappoint them.
but in spite of that
From this reading Not quite yet, he decided.
