used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
in addition
From this reading It was also a tribute of respect to our commandant.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
COMMANDANTnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading OUR DEAR OLD COMMANDANT.
dearly loved
From this reading OUR DEAR OLD COMMANDANT.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
eaternounUS /ˈiːtər/
someone who consumes food for nourishment
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was also a tribute of respect to our commandant.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
mainlyadverbUS /ˈmeɪnli/
for the most part
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OUR DEAR OLD COMMANDANT.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading OUR DEAR OLD COMMANDANT.
patriotismnounUS /ˈpeɪtriətɪzəm/
love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading It was also a tribute of respect to our commandant.
an educational institution
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
swellingnounUS /ˈswelɪŋ/
an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He was not a brilliant man, and in some things was an absolute fire–eater.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
tributenounUS /ˈtrɪbjuːt/
something given or done as an expression of esteem
From this reading It was also a tribute of respect to our commandant.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If we thought a lot of our school, and did our best to keep up its good name, this was due not to a swelling admiration of the military system, but mainly to a sense of patriotism.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading However, his bark was worse than his bite, and he improved on acquaintance.
