used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “On the battleship?” repeated Frank, as he sealed the missive.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
battleshipnounUS /ˈbætəlʃɪp/
large and heavily armoured warship
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Really?” cried Ned in incredulous delight.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “Really?” cried Ned in incredulous delight.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
federaladjectiveUS /ˈfedərəl/
national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “On the battleship?” repeated Frank, as he sealed the missive.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
incredulousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredʒələs/
not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
From this reading “Really?” cried Ned in incredulous delight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
missivenounUS /ˈmɪsɪv/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “On the battleship?” repeated Frank, as he sealed the missive.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
recurring again and again
From this reading “On the battleship?” repeated Frank, as he sealed the missive.
express in words
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading “On the battleship?” repeated Frank, as he sealed the missive.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
in the near future
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
precisely as stated
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
(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 “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Well, I shouldn’t be surprised if it were very soon now.”
at the time that
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
which person or people
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Ned asked this question of his brother, who was busy writing to his uncle, in the federal prison, telling the unfortunate man something of their new life.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Say, Frank, when do you think we’ll really go on board a battleship?”
