used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
brigands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
the act of burning something
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
cadetnounUS /kəˈdet/
a military trainee (as at a military academy)
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
defaultnounUS /dɪˈfɔːlt/
loss due to not showing up
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
defendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈfendɪŋ/
attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
Guerrero
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
honorableadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnərəbəl/
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
independencenounUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/
freedom from control or influence of another or others
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
infantrynounUS /ˈɪnfəntri/
an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
laborernounUS /ˈleɪbərər/
someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
engage in
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
Modesto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
nobilitynounUS /noʊˈbɪləti/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
parchments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
phœnix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
recitalnounUS /rəˈsaɪtəl/
the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
reconstructverbUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkt/
reassemble mentally
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
express in words
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
a male human offspring
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
substituteverbUS /ˈsʌbstətuːt/
put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
From this reading Modesto was called to the military service, and, in default of a substitute, he entered a regiment of infantry as a cadet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
unpardonableadjective
not admitting of pardon
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading During the war of independence, the French burned these parchments in burning his house, under the pretext that the children of a laborer are brigands,--that is to say, that they have committed the unpardonable crime of defending their country.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
(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 Before we continue our recital, it is well, we believe, to make the acquaintance of this new personage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The brave man could reconstruct his house; but as to the parchments, they were not of the class of phœnix.
which person or people
From this reading Don Modesto Guerrero was the son of an honorable farmer, who, like many others, was possessed of excellent parchments of nobility.
