used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
in the past
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
(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 In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
buttonsnounUS /ˈbʌtənz/
plural of “button” — a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
dependsverbUS /dɪˈpendz/
third-person singular of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
encyclopedianounUS /ɪnˌsaɪkləˈpiːdiə/
a reference work (often in several volumes) containing articles on various topics (often arranged in alphabetical order) dealing with the entire range of human knowledge or with some particular specialty
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading To-day, the soldier is equal to the officer of Wellington’s time.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
handlingnounUS /ˈhændlɪŋ/
manual (or mechanical) carrying or moving or delivering or working with something
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
individualistnounUS /ˌɪndɪvɪˈduːəlɪst/
a person who pursues independent thought or action
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
minoradjectiveUS /ˈmaɪnər/
of lesser importance or stature or rank
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading To-day, the soldier is equal to the officer of Wellington’s time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
paddedadjectiveUS /ˈpædɪd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
a human being
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
sanitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsænɪteri/
free from filth and pathogens
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
tacticsnounUS /ˈtæktɪks/
the branch of military science dealing with detailed maneuvers to achieve objectives set by strategy
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading To-day, the soldier is equal to the officer of Wellington’s time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
the act of using
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
precisely as stated
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the past, all that was asked of a Tommy was clean buttons, a padded chest, and handling of arms.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In the past, he was a machine—a splendid machine; now he is an individualist, one trained to use his science in such a way that he feels that upon his conduct the fate of a battle depends.
well-packed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His brain is a well-packed encyclopedia on everything from minor tactics to sanitary duties in war.
Wellington'snounUS /ˈwelɪŋtənz/
possessive form of “wellington” — British general and statesman; he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo; subsequently served as Prime Minister (1769-1852)
From this reading To-day, the soldier is equal to the officer of Wellington’s time.
a late time of life
From this reading _The_ soldier of to-day is a very different person to the one of fifty years ago.
