used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
clothing in general
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
encampmentnounUS /ɪnˈkæmpmɪnt/
a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
the act of departing
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
JacksonnounUS /ˈdʒæksən/
English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
jointing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
and nothing more
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket.
punctualadjectiveUS /ˈpʌŋktʃuːəl/
acting or arriving or performed exactly at the time appointed
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket.
express in words
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
for a short time
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
squadnounUS /skwɑːd/
a smallest army unit
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
toynounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
look attentively
From this reading "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
at the time that
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
which person or people
From this reading It was just ten when he came to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching the jointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, and then set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff as the Chief.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and as a rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had told him the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o’clock, when he wished to see him about a special job.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I’ll say this for you, that you’re punctual, in spite of your toy.
