Chapter XIV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

divisible by two

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading “The general grinds up his information rapidly.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

plural of “grind” — an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious

From this reading “The general grinds up his information rapidly.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Too long, too long,” replied the regular, rather nervously for him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading “The general grinds up his information rapidly.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

a message received and understood

From this reading “The general grinds up his information rapidly.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

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 “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

absolutely essential

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

in an anxiously nervous manner

From this reading “Too long, too long,” replied the regular, rather nervously for him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

above and across; more than

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

go across or through

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

plural of “picket” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

with speed

From this reading “The general grinds up his information rapidly.

on the contrary

From this reading “Too long, too long,” replied the regular, rather nervously for him.

a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle

From this reading “Too long, too long,” replied the regular, rather nervously for him.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading “Too long, too long,” replied the regular, rather nervously for him.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading “I am afraid we are too late to be of much service.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading “Too long, too long,” replied the regular, rather nervously for him.

being present everywhere at once

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading “The general grinds up his information rapidly.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

at the time that

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.

plural of “yankee” — an American who lives in the North (especially during the American Civil War)

From this reading “WE have been detained a long time,” said Somers, when they reached the ravine through which it was necessary to pass on their return; for it was not likely that the rebel pickets would permit even the ubiquitous Major Riggleston to go over to the Yankees.