used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
(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 For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/
-ing form of “describe” — give a description of
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
despatchverb
send away towards a designated goal
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
accept an excuse for
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Foreign politics have generally been simmering in the pot for some time before the pot overboils.
FrontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
usually; as a rule
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
ImperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Foreign politics have generally been simmering in the pot for some time before the pot overboils.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
involvesverbUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvz/
third-person singular of “involve” — connect closely and often incriminatingly
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
irresponsibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrəˈspɑːnsəbəl/
showing lack of care for consequences
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
joiningnounUS /ˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
the act of bringing two things into contact (especially for communication)
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
absolutely essential
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
outragenounUS /ˈaʊtreɪdʒ/
a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
overboils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreign politics have generally been simmering in the pot for some time before the pot overboils.
perpetrateverbUS /ˈpɜːrpətreɪt/
perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
politicsnounUS /ˈpɑːlətɪks/
social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power
From this reading Foreign politics have generally been simmering in the pot for some time before the pot overboils.
potnounUS /pɑːt/
metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading Foreign politics have generally been simmering in the pot for some time before the pot overboils.
preliminariesnounUS /prɪˈlɪməneriz/
plural of “preliminary” — a minor match preceding the main event
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
ruffians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
move hurridly
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
servingnounUS /ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
simmeringnounUS /ˈsɪmərɪŋ/
cooking in a liquid that has been brought to a boil
From this reading Foreign politics have generally been simmering in the pot for some time before the pot overboils.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
suddennessnounUS /ˈsʌdənnəs/
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Foreign politics have generally been simmering in the pot for some time before the pot overboils.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
soldiers collectively
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/
exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
a message informing of danger
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE BASE I have been too long describing the preliminaries that were necessary before joining the Expedition, but there is some excuse for doing so.
at the time that
From this reading When soldiers serving the Imperial Government are ordered on a campaign, they generally have some warning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For after all those preliminaries, with their suddenness and their hurry and rush, were distinctly typical of the Indian Frontier Expedition.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading But on the Indian Frontier some irresponsible ruffians perpetrate some sudden outrage, which, without any word of warning, involves the instant despatch of troops to the scene of action.
