used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I have been in a worse fix,” he replied shortly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I have been in a worse fix,” he replied shortly.
bondsnounUS /bɑːndz/
plural of “bond” — an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
the two together, not just one
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading “I have been in a worse fix,” he replied shortly.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I have been in a worse fix,” he replied shortly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
IranounUS /ˈaɪrə/
a militant organization of Irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces from Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
a boy or man
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
held up in the air
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
loosenverbUS /ˈluːsən/
make loose or looser
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
engage in
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
Preston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “I have been in a worse fix,” he replied shortly.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
for a short time
From this reading “I have been in a worse fix,” he replied shortly.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent, laid him gently on the fir boughs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
We'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’ll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning,” Ira said at length.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “You may both lie down and get what sleep you can,” the lad then said to his comrades.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading “I have been in a worse fix,” he replied shortly.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,” Ira said; “but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.”
