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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
article
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
backs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
belts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
bodies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
caps
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From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
captors
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From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
chastisement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
claimants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
clothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
concerned
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From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
considering
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From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
contention
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From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
contest
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From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
cotton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
desire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
dirks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
dispute
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From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
distributed
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From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
divested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
dreadnought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
eagerness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
garments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
ignominious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
jackets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
leading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/
to get something, especially through effort
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
paraphernalia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
pieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
possession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/
great speed
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
saturated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
small or barely sufficient in amount
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
scimitars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
separate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
shoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
striped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
stripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
submitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
terminating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the instant after being laid hold of, they had been stripped with as much rapidity as if their bodies were about to be submitted to some ignominious chastisement.
trousers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they knew it was not that, only a desire on the part of their captors to obtain possession of their clothes, every article of which became the subject of a separate contention, and more than one leading to a dispute that was near terminating in a contest between two scimitars.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way their jackets and dreadnought trousers, their caps and shoes, their dirks, belts, and pocket paraphernalia, were distributed among nearly as many claimants as there were pieces.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a wonder that even these scanty garments were not taken from them; considering the eagerness with which they had been divested of everything else.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This was the only article of clothing their captors had left upon their backs; and so far as comfort was concerned, they would have been as well without it: for there was not a thread of the striped cotton that was not saturated with sea water.
