used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
from one side of something to the other
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
a youthful male person
From this reading Oh, Thomas, Thomas! would you murder me and your boy?"
coollyadverbUS /ˈkuːli/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
FrenchmennounUS /ˈfrentʃmen/
plural of “frenchman” — a person of French nationality
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
the act of acquiring something
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
the act of departing
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
horridadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəd/
exceedingly bad
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
and nothing more
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
kickverbUS /kɪk/
drive or propel with the foot
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
mamma's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Oh, Thomas, Thomas! would you murder me and your boy?"
militianounUS /məˈlɪʃə/
civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading Oh, Thomas, Thomas! would you murder me and your boy?"
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Oh, Thomas, Thomas! would you murder me and your boy?"
and nothing more
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
by chance
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
screechnounUS /skriːtʃ/
a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
cause to go somewhere
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading Oh, Thomas, Thomas! would you murder me and your boy?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a regular scene;—however it ended, as it always did, in mother's getting the better, and it was settled that I should go into the militia.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
at the time that
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading And why not? the uniform is just as handsome, and the danger not half so great.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Oh, Thomas, Thomas! would you murder me and your boy?"
people who are wounded
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
wreckedadjectiveUS /rekt/
destroyed in an accident
From this reading "What, send him abroad! across the horrid, horrid sea—to be wrecked and, perhaps, drowned, and only to land for the purpose of fighting the wicked Frenchmen,—to be wounded, and perhaps kick—kick—killed!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I wish you could have heard mamma's screech, when he talked so coolly of my going out to fight.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Oh, Thomas, Thomas! would you murder me and your boy?"
