Chapter XX · Chapter 20

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

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

(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 THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

a container; usually has a lid

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

(sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

lacking funds

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

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

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

United States general who was killed along with all his command by the Sioux at the Battle of Little Bighorn (1839-1876)

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

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

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

in a state of sulky dissatisfaction

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

the organ of sight

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

start firing a weapon

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

a fortified military post where troops are stationed

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

destroyed or killed

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

let have

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

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

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

an agency in the Department of Justice that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to the United States

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

past form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

any cohesive unit such as a military company

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

plural of “out” — (baseball) a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

an executive officer of a firm or corporation

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

a city in western Nevada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; known for gambling casinos and easy divorce and remarriage

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

express in words

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

English actress (1847-1928)

From this reading "General Terry was in command at old Fort Buford, an' when th' Injuns broke out, he was in command of all th' soldiers in that part of th' country.

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

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

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

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 There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

at the time that

From this reading All we knowed was that he was away a long time, an' when he come back he sure had fire in his eye.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

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

From this reading There'd bin a lot o' talk 'bout him havin' gone t' Washington, an' havin' a talk with President Grant, at which interview, so 'twas said, th' President'd told him th' first duty of a soldier was obedience, but we didn't know nothin' 'bout that--whether 'twas true or 'twasn't true.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading "Us soldiers didn't know all th' ins an' outs o' what was goin' on, but we did know that th' Old Man was a whole lot dissatisfied.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading THE STORY OF THE CUSTER FIGHT "You know my bein' with Major Reno is why I'm able t' tell this story, 'cause all th' Old Man's outfit--'Old Man' bein' what we called General Custer--was wiped out.