Chapter VIII · A Strange Christmas

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

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

anew

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

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

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

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

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

completely unclothed

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

next to; at the side of

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

the capacity to attract and hold something

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

make a strident sound

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

a covering designed to be worn on a person's body

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

a period of time spent in military service

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

having come to an end or become void after passage of a period of time

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

past form of “falter” — be unsure or weak

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading The wish was but a fleeting one.

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

(of glass) having a roughened coating resembling frost

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

destroyed or killed

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

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

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

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

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

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

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

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

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

steadfast in allegiance or duty

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

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 The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

the force of workers available

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

a particular point in time

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

above and across; more than

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

causing physical or psychological pain

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

promise solemnly and formally

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

plural of “rent” — a payment or series of payments made by the lessee to an owner for use of some property, facility, equipment, or service

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

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

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

a particular situation

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Robert Shirtliffe sat beside a frozen stream binding a cloth around his frosted feet.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

plural of “tatter” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

a word or expression used for some particular thing

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

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

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

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

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

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

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.

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

From this reading The shoes were in tatters, and the bare flesh showed through the gaping rents in many places.

belonging to which person

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading The wish was but a fleeting one.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading His clothing, too, was worn and thin and but poorly protected him from the cutting blast.