Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

having fair knowledge of

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

(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 Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

plural of “apple” — fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

confidently declared to be so

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

cattle that are reared for their meat

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

not faithful to a spouse or lover

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

make up

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

past form of “consist” — originate

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

informal or slang terms for mentally irregular

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

not still wet

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

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

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

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

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

used to form the superlative

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

and nothing more

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

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

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

meat from a domestic hog or pig

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

get something; come into possession of

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

plural of “regulation” — an authoritative rule

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

United States divorcee whose marriage to Edward VIII created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

-ing form of “square” — make square

From this reading Squaring the Yards.

someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

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

From this reading Squaring the Yards.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

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

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

a special situation

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

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

From this reading By degrees the boys became accustomed to their new situation, and began to feel much more contented.

characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

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

From this reading The only thing that troubled them was the food they received.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

which person or people

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It consisted, for the most part, of salt pork and beef, and hard crackers, with now and then a little flour and dried apples.

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

From this reading Simpson, who had been in the navy nearly all his life, and had become well acquainted with its rules and regulations, asserted that they did not receive half their allowance, and promised that, if he could detect the paymaster's steward in the act of cheating them, he would pay him back in his own coin.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading Squaring the Yards.