used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SAVAGE DEED.
AdmiralnounUS /ˈædmərəl/
the supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
batterverbUS /ˈbætər/
strike against forcefully
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
for the reason that
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
exhale hard
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
BritonsnounUS /ˈbrɪtənz/
plural of “briton” — a native or inhabitant of Great Britain
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading A SAVAGE DEED.
distressingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstresɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
divisible by two
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
FrenchmennounUS /ˈfrentʃmen/
plural of “frenchman” — a person of French nationality
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
engage in
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
mangernounUS /ˈmeɪndʒər/
a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
social deportment
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
prize-money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
renewverbUS /rɪˈnuː/
reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
in an unfortunate way
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading A SAVAGE DEED.
only a very short time before
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
in a serious manner
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
surrendernounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
a special situation
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
a source of difficulty
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nevertheless our Britons were forced to renew the battle afterwards; because those Frenchmen had not the manners to surrender as they should have done.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What good could it do them to rob a poor British sailor of half his prize-money?
at the time that
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To make us blow up their poor Admiral was a distressing thing to begin with; but when that was done, to go on with the battle was as bad as the dog in the manger.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading And they even compelled us to batter their ships so seriously and sadly, that when we took possession some were scarcely worth the trouble.
