used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading GEORGE AT THE FORT.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading "I expected it," replied the officer carelessly.
an occurrence of something
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
desertersnounUS /ˈdezərtərz/
plural of “deserter” — a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading "I expected it," replied the officer carelessly.
a boy or man
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading GEORGE AT THE FORT.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading GEORGE AT THE FORT.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I expected it," replied the officer carelessly.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
indicateverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪt/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
used to form the superlative
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
non-commissioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading "I expected it," replied the officer carelessly.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "I expected it," replied the officer carelessly.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GEORGE AT THE FORT.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
in or at that place or location
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
unfeelingadjectiveUS /ənˈfiːlɪŋ/
devoid of feeling for others
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
(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 "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
at the time that
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "It is a wonder to me that the deserters didn't kill him, for there were some hard characters among them and they were well armed."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This remark would seem to indicate that the colonel was a most unfeeling man, and that he did not set much if any value upon the life of a non-commissioned officer; but such was not really the case.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Colonel, that young fellow has had a very hard time of it," said George when Bob had closed the door behind him.
