used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
aimedverbUS /eɪmd/
past form of “aim” — point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But now we had to get back.
BangverbUS /bæŋ/
strike violently
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
bayonetnounUS /ˈbeɪənet/
a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
give encouragement to
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
cordsnounUS /kɔːrdz/
cotton trousers made of corduroy cloth
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
Double-quickadjective
(of a marching cadence) very quick
From this reading Double-quick time?
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
DyernounUS /ˈdaɪər/
someone whose job is to dye cloth
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But now we had to get back.
the act of departing
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
gunnernounUS /ˈɡʌnər/
a serviceman in the artillery
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
LeighnounUS /liː/
English film actress (1913-1967)
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
a particular point in time
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
and nothing more
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
any competition
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
move hurridly
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
spikenounUS /spaɪk/
a transient variation in voltage or current
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
caught or fixed
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
express in words
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Double-quick time?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
touch-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
waistbandnoun
a band of material around the waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Bang! the two rifles going off like one; and the gunner behind Captain Dyer leaped into the air; while the one I aimed at seemed to sink down suddenly beside the wheel he had leaned upon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then the gate flew open, and with a rush and a cheer we, ten of us, raced down for the guns.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I tell you it was a hard race; and being without my gun now--only my bayonet stuck in my trousers waistband--I was there first, and had driven my spike into the touch-hole before Lieutenant Leigh reached his; but the next moment his was done, the cords were cut, and the prisoners loose from the guns.
