used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
ARRESTverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
chateaunounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/
an impressive country house (or castle) in France
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
true confidential information
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
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 Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
orbitnounUS /ˈɔːrbət/
the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
privatesnounUS /ˈpraɪvəts/
external sex organ
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
PrussiannounUS /ˈprʌʃən/
a German inhabitant of Prussia
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
realising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
rungnounUS /rʌŋ/
a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
express in words
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sergeant mounted the steps and having rung the bell proceeded to hammer on the door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER ARREST An hour later a Prussian sergeant and two privates marched into the grounds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Phil answered the call, and was not long in realising that he was under arrest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The sergeant could not say why, such details not being in his orbit of duty.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading His orders were to bring one young man from the chateau to headquarters.
