Chapter XXVIII

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

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

in an abundant manner

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

(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 He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

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

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

lacking funds

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

recognizable; marked

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

freeing from false belief or illusions

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

with efficiency; in an efficient manner

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

a period of time spent in military service

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

with efficiency; in an efficient manner

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

plural of “explosive” — a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

past form of “fluctuate” — cause to fluctuate or move in a wavelike pattern

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

plural of “german” — a person of German nationality

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

guns collectively

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

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

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

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

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

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

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

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

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

lacking humor

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

of the present time and place

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

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

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

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

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

an event that causes someone to die

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

with speed

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

rejecting or disowning or disclaiming as invalid

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

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

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

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

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

final honors degree examinations at Cambridge University

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

being of use or service

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

someone engaged in or experienced in warfare

From this reading He fluctuated for some days between an utter repudiation of all war and an immediate enlistment, and it was probably the light and colour of Joan in his mind that made Wilmington a warrior.

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

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

(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 He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading War was a business of killing, he decided, and what he had to do was to apply himself and his mathematics to gunnery as efficiently as possible, learning as rapidly as might be all that was useful about shells, guns and explosives, and so get to the killing of Germans thoroughly, expeditiously, and abundantly.

at the time that

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He liked pure mathematics; it was a subject in which he felt comfortable.

a town in southeastern North Carolina on the Cape Fear River

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading He had worked well in the first part of the mathematical tripos, and he was working hard in the second part when the war broke out.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Wilmington, with his humourless intensity, was one of the first to bring home to her this disillusionment and tragedy of the youth of the world.