used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
anew
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
banquettenoun
an upholstered bench
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
cook'snounUS /kʊks/
possessive form of “cook” — someone who cooks food
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
being one more than seven
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
the middle of the day
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
select carefully from a group
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
rationsnounUS /ˈræʃənz/
plural of “ration” — the food allowance for one day (especially for service personnel)
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
razornounUS /ˈreɪzər/
edge tool used in shaving
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
shovelnounUS /ˈʃʌvəl/
a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
soapnounUS /soʊp/
a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
StonernounUS /ˈstoʊnər/
an attacker who pelts the victim with stones (especially with intent to kill)
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Stoner, brisk as a bell all the morning, suddenly flung down his shovel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
tooth-brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
traverseverbUS /ˈtrævərs/
travel across or pass over
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
trenchnounUS /trentʃ/
a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
TRENCHESnounUS /ˈtrentʃɪz/
plural of “trench” — a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
waggons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was nearly noon now, and rations had not come; the cook's waggons were delayed on the road.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Working with pick and shovel, On traverse, banquette, and slope, And now we are back and working With tooth-brush, razor, and soap.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading We had been at work since five o'clock in the morning, digging away at the new communication trench.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading IN THE TRENCHES Up for days in the trenches, Working and working away; Eight days up in the trenches And back again to-day.
