used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
subject to appointment
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
DETACHMENTnounUS /dɪˈtætʃmənt/
avoiding emotional involvement
From this reading ON DETACHMENT.
drillverbUS /drɪl/
make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
in a serious manner
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
efficientadjectiveUS /ɪˈfɪʃənt/
being effective without wasting time or effort or expense
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
ensignnounUS /ˈensən/
a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
set up or found
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/
plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
masteringnounUS /ˈmæstərɪŋ/
becoming proficient in the use of something; having mastery of
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
the force of workers available
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
newly-joined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
O'Connor'snounUS /oʊˈkɑːnərz/
possessive form of “o'connor” — United States writer (1925-1964)
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON DETACHMENT.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
regimentverbUS /ˈredʒəmənt/
subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
express the need or desire for
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
in the near future
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
vacancynounUS /ˈveɪkənsi/
being unoccupied
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
precisely as stated
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ralph was soon at home in the regiment.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He applied himself very earnestly to mastering the mystery of drill, and it was not long before he was pronounced to be efficient, and he was then at Captain O'Connor's request appointed to his company, in which there happened to be a vacancy for an ensign.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A few rough practical jokes were played; but Ralph took them with such perfect good temper that they were soon abandoned.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He found his comrades a cheery and pleasant set of men, ready to assist the newly-joined young officers as far as they could.
