used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
(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 Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The boys did not talk.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
lightenverbUS /ˈlaɪtən/
make more cheerful
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
the force of workers available
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The boys did not talk.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
progressingverbUS /prəˈɡresɪŋ/
-ing form of “progress” — develop in a positive way
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The boys did not talk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
trenchesnounUS /ˈtrentʃɪz/
plural of “trench” — a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
uncomfortablyadverbUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in physical discomfort
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Everywhere men were sleeping, rolled up in their blankets and lying uncomfortably along the bottom of the trenches or out on the ground under the stars.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
well-beloved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
at the time that
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He thought of Helen, and wondered how her well-beloved patient was progressing.
Zaidos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zaidos was busy thinking of the present, with all its tragic incidents, and occasionally a funny happening to lighten the gloom.
zig-zagadjectiveUS /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/
having short sharp turns or angles
From this reading VICTORY The boys walked slowly back, picking their way as well as they could in the darkness, occasionally taking to the zig-zag trenches when the surface paths were too obscure.
