used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading Others were blind drunk.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
commandantnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
complimentsnounUS /ˈkɑːmpləments/
(usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
delegationnounUS /ˌdeləˈɡeɪʃən/
a group of representatives or delegates
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading Others were blind drunk.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
flatteringadjectiveUS /ˈflætərɪŋ/
showing or representing to advantage
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
death of a person
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
hospitalitynounUS /ˌhɑːspəˈtæləti/
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
Indian'snounUS /ˈɪndiənz/
possessive form of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
a message received and understood
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
not any; not one
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
Others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Others were blind drunk.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
pipesnounUS /paɪps/
plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
plyingverbUS /ˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “ply” — give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
quarter-master-sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
saturnineadjective
bitter or scornful
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
for a short time
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
significantadjectiveUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important in effect or meaning
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
statedadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtɪd/
declared as fact; explicitly stated
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
tafia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He returned with the somewhat significant information that they needed no tafia.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/
leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Shortly after nightfall the quarter-master-sergeant went out to the Indian huts with some tobacco and pipes, and tafia, and the compliments of the commandant.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A few, he stated, were sober, but saturnine and grave.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
zealousadjectiveUS /ˈzeləs/
marked by active interest and enthusiasm
From this reading It was the fashion of the time and place to be zealous in flattering the Indian’s sense of importance, and the hospitality of the fort was constantly asserted in plying the delegation with small presents.
