used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
anew
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
breast-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
remove the dust from
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
the force of workers available
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
non-commissioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
accept an excuse for
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
salutedverbUS /səˈluːtɪd/
past form of “salute” — propose a toast to
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
Saunderson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
Saunderson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
sheepishlyadverbUS /ˈʃiːpɪʃli/
in a sheepish manner
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
shrapnelnounUS /ˈʃræpnəl/
shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
term of address for a man
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
having a supporting base
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
statuenounUS /ˈstætʃuː/
a sculpture representing a human or animal
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
stifflyadverbUS /ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The non-commissioned officers had at first lain down with their men, but now, seeing their officers standing behind them, rose sheepishly on one knee, one after another.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Another shrapnel tore up the ground in front of the breast-work.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
WilkinsnounUS /ˈwɪlkɪnz/
United States civil rights leader (1901-1981)
From this reading Saunderson’s sergeant (Wilkins by name) stood upright, walked up to Saunderson, saluted, and said, "Beg pardon, sir, it shall not occur again," marched stiffly back to his men, and stood there like a statue.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One or two of the men were covered with dust.
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading They all tried to wriggle themselves into as small a space as possible.
