used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
any thing at all
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
Colson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
consequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
corporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/
a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
court-martialed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
approval
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/
fill with distaste
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
ForesternounUS /ˈfɔːrəstər/
English writer of adventure novels featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower (1899-1966)
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
a man of refinement
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
hauledverbUS /hɔːld/
past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
immediately past
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
not any; not one
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
punishverbUS /ˈpʌnɪʃ/
impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
shoulder-strap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
and nothing more
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They will simply be court-martialed for stretching their passes, and that will be the last of it.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “Nothing much,” replied Forester, in a tone of disgust.
having come into contact
From this reading They have broken no law, and consequently they can’t be touched for taking our dinner.
unbecomingadjectiveUS /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there is a sergeant or corporal among them—a shoulder-strap wouldn’t have anything to do with such a crowd—he will be hauled over the coals for conduct unbecoming a gentleman and an officer; but they can’t punish him beyond taking some of his credit marks away from him.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What will the superintendent do with those boys for stealing your dinner?” asked Mr. Colson, after a little pause.
