used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
(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 As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
Archie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading "You will be cook of this mess."
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading Learning the Ropes.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
messesnounUS /ˈmesɪz/
plural of “mess” — a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "You will be cook of this mess."
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
receiving-ship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
RopesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading Learning the Ropes.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Learning the Ropes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "You will be cook of this mess."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
Twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As they came on board the receiving-ship they were all drawn up in a line, the roll was called, and they were divided off into messes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The mess to which Frank and his cousin belonged was called "Number Twenty-five."
which person or people
From this reading As they were about to be dismissed, the officer who had called the roll said to Archie:
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "You will be cook of this mess."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You will be cook of this mess."
