used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
(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 A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
Balla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
blood-thirsty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
ColenounUS /koʊl/
a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
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 Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
ConventionnounUS /kənˈvenʃən/
a large formal assembly
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
drilledadjectiveUS /drɪld/
trained in a skill by repetitious practice
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
file-closers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
set up or found
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
conformity or harmony
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
engage in
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
militianounUS /məˈlɪʃə/
civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
NapoleonnounUS /nəˈpoʊliən/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
OaklandnounUS /ˈoʊklənd/
a city in western California on San Francisco Bay opposite San Francisco; primarily and industrial urban center
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
preservationnounUS /ˌprezərˈveɪʃən/
the activity of protecting something from loss or danger
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
punctiliouslyadverb
in a punctilious manner
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
pyramidverbUS /ˈpɪrəmɪd/
enlarge one's holdings on an exchange on a continued rise by using paper profits as margin to buy additional amounts
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
raidverbUS /reɪd/
search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
renownnounUS /rɪˈnaʊn/
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
RichardsnounUS /ˈrɪtʃərdz/
English literary critic who collaborated with C. K. Ogden and contributed to the development of Basic English (1893-1979)
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
skullsnounUS /skʌlz/
plural of “skull” — the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
sympathiesnounUS /ˈsɪmpəθiz/
plural of “sympathy” — an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
Tamerlanenoun
Mongolian ruler of Samarkand who led his nomadic hordes to conquer an area from Turkey to Mongolia (1336-1405)
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer
From this reading A little later they found their sympathies all on the side of peace and the preservation of the Union.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
which person or people
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Their uncle was for keeping the Union unbroken, and ran for the Convention against Colonel Richards, who was the chief officer of the militia in the county, and was as blood-thirsty as Tamerlane, who reared the pyramid of skulls, and as hungry for military renown as the great Napoleon, about whom the boys had read.
belonging to which person
From this reading There was great excitement at Oakland during the John Brown raid, and the boys' grandmother used to pray for him and Cook, whose pictures were in the papers.
Willy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frank was the captain, Willy the first lieutenant, and a dozen or more little negroes composed the rank and file, Peter and Cole being trusted file-closers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boys became soldiers, and drilled punctiliously with guns which they got Uncle Balla to make for them.
