Chapter XII

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

-ing form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

(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 For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

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

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

in a state of sleep

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

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

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

the act of breaking something

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

army unit smaller than a division

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

the first light of day

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

past form of “encounter” — come together

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

(of persons) excessively affected by emotion

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

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 The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

plural of “gasp” — a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

the act of departing

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

cause to stop

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

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

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

below the surround or below the normal position

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

on one occasion

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

repeated heavy blows

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

past form of “precipitate” — bring about abruptly

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

to say, state, or perform again

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

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

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

the state of being asleep

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

confined on all sides

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

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

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

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

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

male cat

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

cause to become awake or conscious

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

English composer (1902-1983)

From this reading His breath coming and going in quick, sharp gasps, Tom managed to give the countersign, adding, “Sergeant Walton, Company C.”

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

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

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.

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

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

which person or people

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

belonging to which person

From this reading THE DESPERATE CHANCE AS Tom, in the gray of the breaking dawn, came pounding into the lines which surrounded the thousands of sleeping soldiers, he nearly precipitated himself upon the out-thrust bayonet of a sentry whose call of halt he did not hear.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading For once he wished that all sentries were asleep on their posts.

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

From this reading At brigade headquarters he encountered a man who refused to get excited, and who demanded to know in detail what it was Tom wanted before he would waken his own sergeant to see if the message could be delivered to the general.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading The sentry lowered his rifle and Tom proceeded; but a few yards further on he was compelled to repeat the process.