used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But how was it to be done?
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But how was it to be done?
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
divisible by two
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But how was it to be done?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
Joseph'snounUS /ˈdʒoʊzəfs/
possessive form of “joseph” — leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
LEADSnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
not any; not one
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
reloadverbUS /riˈloʊd/
load anew
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
be standing; be upright
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
WESTWARDadverbUS /ˈwestwərd/
toward the west
From this reading THE TRAIL LEADS WESTWARD There was not a second to lose.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had fired the charge which had been in his gun and he had had no chance to reload.
which person or people
From this reading If Joseph’s life was to be saved, it was Robert who must do it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Indian would surely be upon Joseph before he could raise himself from his fallen position and even should he be able to get up he would stand no chance of escape.
