used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
Cornbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
dicenounUS /daɪs/
a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
dragoons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
esteemedadjectiveUS /ɪˈstiːmd/
having an illustrious reputation; respected
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
fledglingadjectiveUS /ˈfledʒlɪŋ/
(of a young bird) having acquired its flight feathers
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
hard-drinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
King'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
immediately past
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
ne'er-do-wells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
not any; not one
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
not one, and not any
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
preferencenounUS /ˈprefərəns/
a strong liking
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
quick-fighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
a male human offspring
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
UPONprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
the act of using
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
WAITSnounUS /weɪts/
plural of “wait” — time during which some action is awaited
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MONSIEUR WAITS UPON A LADY Captain Cornbury was no fledgling.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was never a game of dice or cards at which he could not hold his own at luck or skill.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading His last employment had been in the King’s service as captain in a regiment of dragoons, but he lived, of a preference, upon his wits.
a late time of life
From this reading He knew a trick with a sword, and for twenty years had kept a certain position by his readiness to use it.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading He was the younger son, none too highly esteemed by the elder branch, of a hard-drinking, quick-fighting stock of ne’er-do-wells.
