Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

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

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

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

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

plural of “colony” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

past form of “command” — be in command of

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

made known or openly avowed

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

to come or go into

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

a title used to address dignitaries (such as ambassadors or governors); usually preceded by “Your” or “His” or “Her”

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

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

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading He now glanced up at the orderly.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

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

From this reading He now glanced up at the orderly.

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

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

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

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

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

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

freedom from control or influence of another or others

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

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

From this reading "Who is the young man, orderly?" he queried.

past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

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

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

held or filled or in use

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

a soldier who serves as an attendant to a superior officer

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

above and across; more than

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

one who loves and defends his or her country

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

inflected form of “query” — pose a question

From this reading "Who is the young man, orderly?" he queried.

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

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

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

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

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He now glanced up at the orderly.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

which person or people

From this reading "Who is the young man, orderly?" he queried.

belonging to which person

From this reading General Washington, the great man on whose shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, now that the people of the Colonies had declared for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over some papers.

plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

in the company of; together with

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading The Dare Boys in New York An orderly knocked at the door of the room occupied by General Washington, in the old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as patriot headquarters, and on being commanded to enter, opened the door and said:

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "A young man wishes audience with you, your excellency."