Chapter XVII · What Came of It All

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

(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 As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

a youthful male person

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

a cruelly rapacious person

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

showing who or what does the action

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

with intention; in an intentional manner

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

divisible by two

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

opinion or judgment

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

plural of “fellow” — a boy or man

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

start firing a weapon

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

set up or found

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

having or deserving or conferring glory

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

the force of workers available

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

a particular point in time

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

something offered (as a proposal or bid)

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

a military unit that is a subdivision of a company; usually has a headquarters and two or more squads; usually commanded by a lieutenant

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

having a point

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

Identical; not different.

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

except for; apart from

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

past form of “suffocate” — deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

at the time that

From this reading When we found him, he was lying completely covered by the body of the elder boy, and if we had not come up when we did, he must have been suffocated.

which person or people

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The sergeant of the firing party, a rough brute, who was captured, and who explained the matter to us and pointed out the boys, said, with tears in his eyes, that he had never seen such a piece of heroism.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading Ephraim had evidently caught sight of some of our men in the wood, and knew that in a moment or two the fight must begin.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading At the same time he believed that the movement would be too late to stop the fire of the platoon, and even as the word was upon the sergeant’s lips, flung himself in front of Lucius, deliberately offering his own life to save that of his friend.

plural of “wound” — an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading As a matter of fact, all his wounds are from our men and in the back; but for all that, they are as glorious as any received in front by our brave fellows to-day.’