Chapter XXXV · A Night Battle

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

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

using the voice; not silently

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

a continuing very loud noise

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

command with authority

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

thoroughgoing

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

plural of “fool” — a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

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

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

United States general who supervised the invasion of Normandy and the defeat of Nazi Germany; 34th President of the United States (1890-1961)

From this reading "Yes, Ike."

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading "Mistah Sam."

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

one of four equal parts

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

on the contrary

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

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

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading He had been looking for a direct attack and so could not understand this move.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

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

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What can they mean; they are certainly bad, but they are not such downright fools as to think they can do us any harm from that quarter," said Sam, thinking aloud rather than asking for the opinion of his companions.

at the time that

From this reading Sam was astonished when he heard the rifles banging away on the east side of the rock.

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, Ike."