used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
able-bodiedadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəlˈbɑːdid/
having a strong healthy body
From this reading Being large and able-bodied, I enrolled with the home-guard.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Being large and able-bodied, I enrolled with the home-guard.
attendantnounUS /əˈtendənt/
someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being large and able-bodied, I enrolled with the home-guard.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
ConfessionsnounUS /kənˈfeʃənz/
plural of “confession” — an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
defensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
drillverbUS /drɪl/
make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
enrolledverbUS /enˈroʊld/
inflected form of “enrol” — register formally as a participant or member
From this reading Being large and able-bodied, I enrolled with the home-guard.
fanverbUS /fæn/
strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
enclose with a fence
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
flagnounUS /flæɡ/
emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
Home-guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Being large and able-bodied, I enrolled with the home-guard.
ice-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
the force of workers available
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
a particular point in time
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
NegronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
pitchernounUS /ˈpɪtʃər/
(baseball) the person who does the pitching
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
rallyverbUS /ˈræli/
gather
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
SweetheartsnounUS /ˈswiːthɑːrts/
plural of “sweetheart” — a person loved by another person
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
precisely as stated
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Confessions of a Fat Man -- Home-guard -- The Negro on the Fence -- A Camp Letter of Early Times -- "Sweethearts" against the War.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The drill was very severe in hot weather, and I wanted an attendant, a fan, and pitcher of ice-water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The moment the flag was threatened, large bodies of men were called upon to rally to its defense.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Being large and able-bodied, I enrolled with the home-guard.
