used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
(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 Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
angrilyadverbUS /ˈæŋɡrəli/
with anger
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
artificenounUS /ˈɑːrtəfɪs/
a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
beguiledadjectiveUS /bɪˈɡaɪld/
filled with wonder and delight
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
chafedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪft/
painful from having the skin abraded
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
comprehendingverbUS /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhendɪŋ/
-ing form of “comprehend” — get the meaning of something
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
coolnessnounUS /ˈkuːlnəs/
calm and unruffled self-assurance
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
wanted intensely
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/
complete or carry out
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
an opposing military force
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
divisible by two
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
habitualadjectiveUS /həˈbɪtʃuːəl/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
inflictionnounUS /ˌɪnˈflɪkʃən/
the act of imposing something (as a tax or an embargo)
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
and nothing more
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
most important element
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
not any; not one
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
prolixitynoun
boring verbosity
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
provokingadjectiveUS /prəˈvoʊkɪŋ/
causing or tending to cause anger or resentment
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
on the contrary
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
rusenounUS /ruːz/
a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
express in words
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
temptingadjectiveUS /ˈtemptɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
warfarenounUS /ˈwɔːrfer/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Do not fancy from this my prolixity of explanation, that _we_ were so slow in comprehending all these points.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading No, we understood our situation well enough; we knew that to discharge our pieces--even though a horse should fall to every shot--was just what the enemy desired.
wilesnounUS /waɪlz/
plural of “wile” — the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)
From this reading That was the main object of their _ruse_; but we were too well used to the wiles of Indian warfare to be beguiled by so shallow an artifice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was tempting enough--provoking, I should rather say--thus to be fired at, without the chance of returning it; and my companions, notwithstanding their habitual coolness, chafed angrily under the infliction.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Words of caution passed between us, and we stood to our guns with as much patience as we could command.
