used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
(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 At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
gunnernounUS /ˈɡʌnər/
a serviceman in the artillery
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
hammeredadjectiveUS /ˈhæmərd/
shaped or worked with a hammer and often showing hammer marks
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
Howland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
the act of departing
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
a particular point in time
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
with speed
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
rammingverbUS /ˈræmɪŋ/
inflected form of “ram” — strike or drive against with a heavy impact
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
ramrodnounUS /ˈræmrɑːd/
a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
round-shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
strokesnounUS /stroʊks/
plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
swelledadjectiveUS /sweld/
feeling self-importance
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
swivel-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little group scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail.
the upper part of anything
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
uproarnounUS /ˈʌprɔːr/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the uproar.
waddingnoun
any material used especially to protect something
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The big gunner was at the breach of his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the same moment Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with all care.
