Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

(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 Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

weaponry used by military or naval force

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading As Stair had repeatedly said, "The sea is never shut!"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

lying toward or situated in the east

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

dug in

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

start firing a weapon

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

inflected form of “foresee” — realize beforehand

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

a district in southwestern Scotland

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

brought together in one place

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

not accessible to view

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

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

From this reading As Stair had repeatedly said, "The sea is never shut!"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

an intermediate platform in a staircase

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

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 So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

past form of “march” — march in a procession

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

the force of workers available

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

a particular point in time

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading As Stair had repeatedly said, "The sea is never shut!"

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

a severe or trying experience

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

with low volume

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

several time

From this reading As Stair had repeatedly said, "The sea is never shut!"

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading As Stair had repeatedly said, "The sea is never shut!"

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

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

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

From this reading As Stair had repeatedly said, "The sea is never shut!"

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading As Stair had repeatedly said, "The sea is never shut!"

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading So, though the moment of the attack was a surprise, its manner had long been foreseen.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

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

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

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

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.

which person or people

From this reading It was Stair who stumbled upon a picket of the _Britomart_ men hidden among the eastern sand-dunes.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading ORDEAL BY FIRE The Bothy on the Wild of Blairmore was an entrenched camp, for Stair was too good a general not to see to the state of his defences, to his victualling and armament from the beginning.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Landing parties from the _Britomart_ and _Vandeleur_ had marched up the Valleys, and the Preventive men of all the West of Galloway had quietly gathered at Stranryan in order to co-operate with them.