used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
any thing at all
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
culvertnounUS /ˈkʌlvərt/
a transverse and totally enclosed drain under a road or railway
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
divisible by two
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
foreseeverbUS /fɔːrˈsiː/
realize beforehand
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
guardingverbUS /ˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “guard” — to keep watch over
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
being perceived or observed
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
on one occasion
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
patrolnounUS /pəˈtroʊl/
a detachment used for security or reconnaissance
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
thickeningadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkənɪŋ/
accumulating and becoming more intense
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading Though he had traveled so short a distance from the Russian border, there seemed to be more people about.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading That was part of war, the part of war that he had been able to foresee.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wasn't anything due to the war that made an impression on his mind so much as a sort of thickening of the country.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading A STRANGE MEETING As he walked west Fred noticed, even in the night, a change in the country.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was not that he passed once in a while a solitary soldier guarding a culvert, as he neared a railway, or a patrol, with its twinkling fire, watching this spot or that that needed special guarding.
