used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
adaptedadjectiveUS /əˈdæptɪd/
changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
AfghanistannounUS /æfˈɡænəstæn/
a mountainous landlocked country in central Asia; bordered by Iran to the west and Russia to the north and Pakistan to the east and south
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
react verbally
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
baggagenounUS /ˈbæɡədʒ/
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
cavalrynounUS /ˈkævəlri/
troops trained to fight on horseback
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
unvarying in nature
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
convoynounUS /ˈkɑːnvɔɪ/
a procession of land vehicles traveling together
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
DOESauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
Hussars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
not in action or at work
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
loafnounUS /loʊf/
a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
maraudingadjectiveUS /mərˈɔːdɪŋ/
characterized by plundering or pillaging or marauding
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
the force of workers available
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
mountaineersnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪnɪrz/
plural of “mountaineer” — someone who climbs mountains
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
murderingverbUS /ˈmɜːrdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “murder” — kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
not any; not one
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
PathansnounUS /ˈpæθənz/
plural of “pathan” — a member of the mountain people living in the eastern regions of Afghanistan
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
perforceadverbUS /pərˈfɔːrs/
by necessity; by force of circumstance
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
Reginald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
SeventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the sixteenth in position
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
not in physical motion
From this reading “MY CAPTAIN DOES NOT ANSWER; HIS LIPS ARE PALE AND STILL.”
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Sir Reginald looked upon “baggage guard” as better than nothing.
precisely as stated
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
wearisomeadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrisəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading Beyond constant and most wearisome convoy duty, the Seventeenth Hussars had very little to do.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Afghanistan is a country more adapted for mountaineers than mounted men; and as far as downright fighting was concerned, the cavalry were, perforce, idle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
would-beadjective
unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition
From this reading “Half a loaf was better than no bread,” and he had more than one exciting little brush with would-be marauding and murdering Pathans.
