used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading All that, however, had been alien to the main purposes of life.
(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 Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
brought into existence
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
bredverbUS /bred/
inflected form of “breed” — call forth
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
CiviladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
civiliannounUS /səˈvɪljən/
a nonmilitary citizen
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
ConnecticutnounUS /kəˈnetəkət/
a New England state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
being one more than seven
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
essentiallyadverbUS /eˈsenʃəli/
in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
a social unit living together
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
fighternounUS /ˈfaɪtər/
someone who fights (or is fighting)
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
generationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
great-great-grandfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading All that, however, had been alien to the main purposes of life.
ten 10s
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
huskyadjectiveUS /ˈhʌski/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
industriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʌstriəs/
characterized by hard work and perseverance
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
most important element
From this reading All that, however, had been alien to the main purposes of life.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary, he was a civilian and a business man in every nerve of his body.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading All that, however, had been alien to the main purposes of life.
RevolutionnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/
a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
Spanish-American
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All that, however, had been alien to the main purposes of life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All that, however, had been alien to the main purposes of life.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading Eight generations on American soil had bred a type essentially industrious, notwithstanding all the fighting in which the family had been engaged.
urgeverbUS /ɜːrdʒ/
force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was not a born fighter, in spite of a big, husky frame through which the urge of physical life was strong.
a late time of life
From this reading His father had fought in the Spanish-American War; his grandfather in the Civil War; his great-great-grandfather in the Revolution; farther back, his ancestors in the Connecticut Valley had beaten off the French and Indians for nearly a hundred years.
