used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
anew
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
(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 In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
next to; at the side of
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
DILEMMAnounUS /dɪˈlemə/
state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
ExplanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
HighlandersnounUS /ˈhaɪlændərz/
plural of “highlander” — a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
take somebody somewhere
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
the force of workers available
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
used to form the superlative
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
musketnounUS /ˈmʌskət/
a muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel; formerly used by infantrymen
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
something you have to do
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
over-zealous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
express in speech
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
subsequentlyadverbUS /ˈsʌbsəkwəntli/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Explanations can be made subsequently, but a bullet from an over-zealous musket can never be recalled.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I answered, instantly, for the slightest hesitation on such occasions may lead to the most serious results.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In an instant they were beside us, a sergeant and six men, all Highlanders.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
the words that are spoken
From this reading I was about to speak again, but before I could do so Margaret stepped up to the sergeant, and taking him by the sleeve whispered a few words in his ear.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I FIND A KEY TO MY DILEMMA "We are your prisoners!"
