used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
attainingverbUS /əˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “attain” — to gain with effort
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
Bertram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
duelnounUS /ˈduːəl/
a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
forgettingverbUS /fərˈɡetɪŋ/
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
yet to be or coming
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
indulgeverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒ/
give free rein to
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
insultedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsʌltɪd/
past form of “insult” — treat, mention, or speak to rudely
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
LeonounUS /ˈliːoʊ/
(astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Leo
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
used to form the superlative
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
obstinateadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbstənət/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
on one occasion
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
and nothing more
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
resolveverbUS /riˈzɑːlv/
bring to an end; settle conclusively
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
cut with a saw
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
in the near future
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of attaining this end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free to indulge in his own reflections.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What troubled him most was his father's resolve to fight Bertram.
which person or people
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he thought only of how this duel might be prevented.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was but too certain that the obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as possible.
