used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I guess Russian soldiers would be as bad as bandits.”
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “I guess Russian soldiers would be as bad as bandits.”
banditsnounUS /ˈbændəts/
plural of “bandit” — an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They can’t be bandits; they must be soldiers, for they’re in uniform.”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
dismountverb
alight from (a horse)
From this reading Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “They can’t be bandits; they must be soldiers, for they’re in uniform.”
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
the act of departing
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading “I guess Russian soldiers would be as bad as bandits.”
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I guess Russian soldiers would be as bad as bandits.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
indicateverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪt/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount.
the force of workers available
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “They can’t be bandits; they must be soldiers, for they’re in uniform.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
Raymond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
robbedverbUS /rɑːbd/
inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading “I guess Russian soldiers would be as bad as bandits.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
cut with a saw
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount.
Sid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading “They can’t be bandits; they must be soldiers, for they’re in uniform.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They can’t be bandits; they must be soldiers, for they’re in uniform.”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading “They can’t be bandits; they must be soldiers, for they’re in uniform.”
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Then he made a motion which seemed to indicate that he wanted them to dismount.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
at the time that
From this reading “We’re going to be robbed by bandits, Sid!” exclaimed Raymond when he saw that they were about to be halted by the men in front of them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
which person or people
From this reading The officer, who, the boys thought, must be a lieutenant, said something to them in Russian which of course they did not understand.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I guess Russian soldiers would be as bad as bandits.”
