used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading “No, that’s right,” agreed Jerry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
all things; all of a situation
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading “No, that’s right,” agreed Jerry.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
engage in
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
not any; not one
From this reading “No, that’s right,” agreed Jerry.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
prospectornounUS /ˈprɔːspektər/
someone who explores an area for mineral deposits
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
repairsnounUS /rɪˈperz/
plural of “repair” — the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “No, that’s right,” agreed Jerry.
in the near future
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
express a supposition
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, that’s right,” agreed Jerry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
a special situation
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
a source of difficulty
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Well, now it’s up to us to get busy and make these repairs as soon as we can.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “But I suppose we couldn’t expect to have everything too easy.”
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
at the time that
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK “Well, this is our first bit of bad luck,” remarked Ned, when the prospector had gone off to do guard duty.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading If the Indians want to make trouble they will, and the best thing for us to do is to get out of here.”
