used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Dear me!" cried Jimmieboy.
dearly loved
From this reading "Dear me!" cried Jimmieboy.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, I didn't," returned the major, evidently much excited.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading "No, I didn't," returned the major, evidently much excited.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading "No, I didn't," returned the major, evidently much excited.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No, I didn't," returned the major, evidently much excited.
Jimmieboy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
immediately past
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
MAJORadjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading THE MAJOR RETURNS.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "No, I didn't," returned the major, evidently much excited.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, I didn't," returned the major, evidently much excited.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "No, I didn't," returned the major, evidently much excited.
RETURNSnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading THE MAJOR RETURNS.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
cut with a saw
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAJOR RETURNS.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
precisely as stated
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
(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 "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I should have caught them but for a dreadful encounter I had up the road, for between you and me, Jimmieboy, I have had a terrible adventure since I saw you last, and the soldiers I went to order back have been destroyed to the very last man."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well," said Jimmieboy, as the major dismounted, "did you catch up with them?"
