Chapter II

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

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

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

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

Having no one else present.

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading _Mabel:_ Certainly, Miss Smith, although they are not cocks and they are not roaches.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

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

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

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

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

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

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

plural of “battleship” — large and heavily armoured warship

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

for the reason that

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

plural of “beetle” — insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

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

From this reading _Mabel:_ Certainly, Miss Smith, although they are not cocks and they are not roaches.

plural of “cockroach” — any of numerous chiefly nocturnal insects; some are domestic pests

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

plural of “cock” — obscene terms for penis

From this reading _Mabel:_ Certainly, Miss Smith, although they are not cocks and they are not roaches.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

accompanying

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

exercising influence or control

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

yet to be or coming

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

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

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

plural of “hoist” — lifting device for raising heavy or cumbersome objects

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

plural of “horror” — intense and profound fear

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

the quality of being humane

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

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

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

past form of “interfere” — come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

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

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

wingless usually flattened bloodsucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

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

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

characterized by grandeur

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

of lesser importance or stature or rank

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading _Mabel:_ Certainly, Miss Smith, although they are not cocks and they are not roaches.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

disregarded

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

and nothing more

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

by chance

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

plural of “pest” — a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

deliver a quick blow to

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

on the contrary

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

plural of “roach” — a roll of hair brushed back from the forehead

From this reading _Mabel:_ Certainly, Miss Smith, although they are not cocks and they are not roaches.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

as a signal

From this reading Like aeroplanes, insects have captured the air; like motors, they have made a respectable show on land; but they have signally failed at sea.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading _Mabel:_ Certainly, Miss Smith, although they are not cocks and they are not roaches.

plural of “submarine” — a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

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

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

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

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

up to a particular time

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

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

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

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

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading They have nothing corresponding to battleships or submarines; and a certain bug, called _Halobates_, alone hoists the insect flag on the ocean, and that only in the warmer waters.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.

in the company of; together with

From this reading (_Punch._) In ‘The Minor Horrors of War,’ we rather neglected the Navy—the senior Service, and till now the more dominant of our two magnificent forces—partly because it is less interfered with by insect pests than is the sister Service, though the common pests of our poor humanity—the flea, the louse, the bug—are, like the poor, ‘always with us.’

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _The Governess:_ And, perhaps, Mabel, as they are not black and as they are not beetles, you will in future call them cockroaches.