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1861
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
2
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
Alexandria
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
Anonymous
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From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
Approaching
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
astonishment
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
Beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
bed
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
boy
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
brave
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
breath
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
burly
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
California
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
Camp
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
CHAPTER
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
Choice
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
closing
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From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
coarse
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From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
death
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
despise
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
face
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
find
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
front
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
GENERAL
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
handsome
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
HOWARD
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
instead
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
INTRODUCTION
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
IV
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
Language
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
life
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
low
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
Maintain
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
Maker
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
man
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
moonlight
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From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
near
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From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
night
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From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
now
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
O
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
oath
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From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
passing
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From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
polite
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
post
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From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
rank
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
Reflect
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
rough
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From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
see
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
sentinel
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From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
sentinel's
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From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
seventeen
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
some
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From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
stop
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
swear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
think
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From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Approaching him, till I could see his face, think of my astonishment to find him, instead of a burly man of low life, a handsome boy of seventeen.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
used
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From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
Virginia
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
vulgarity
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Anonymous._ One moonlight night I was passing near a sentinel’s post.
winter
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From this reading It was during the winter of 1861–2, in front of Alexandria, Virginia, at Camp California.
wise
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From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sentinel, in some trouble, used rough, coarse language, closing with an oath.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Be Choice of Language INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER IV BY GENERAL O. O. HOWARD “Maintain your rank, vulgarity despise, To swear is neither brave, polite nor wise; You would not swear upon a bed of death; Reflect—your Maker now may stop your breath.”
