used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Lunch was over at Auldhaig Air Station.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The second-in-command and Captain Cumberleigh found themselves alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
ante-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
Auldhaig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lunch was over at Auldhaig Air Station.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The second-in-command and Captain Cumberleigh found themselves alone.
Cumberleigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
set up or found
From this reading The second-in-command and Captain Cumberleigh found themselves alone.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
HangedverbUS /hæŋd/
past form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
take the midday meal
From this reading Lunch was over at Auldhaig Air Station.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Lunch was over at Auldhaig Air Station.
paradenounUS /pərˈeɪd/
a ceremonial procession including people marching
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
SALVAGEverbUS /ˈsælvədʒ/
save from ruin, destruction, or harm
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
second-in-commandnoun
someone who relieves a commander
From this reading The second-in-command and Captain Cumberleigh found themselves alone.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Lunch was over at Auldhaig Air Station.
SYNDICATEnounUS /ˈsɪndɪkət/
a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The second-in-command and Captain Cumberleigh found themselves alone.
threesnounUS /θriːz/
plural of “three” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
twosnounUS /tuːz/
plural of “two” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Most of the officers had drifted in twos and threes into the ante-room to seize the opportunity of enjoying a smoke before falling in on parade.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lunch was over at Auldhaig Air Station.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
WHAT'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Hanged if I can see what you are driving at."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE SALVAGE SYNDICATE "WHAT'S your little game, Cumberleigh?" demanded the major.
