used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
CARTRIDGEnounUS /ˈkɑːrtrədʒ/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
chevrons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
not accessible to view
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
bring shame or dishonor upon
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
the act of departing
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
destroyed or killed
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
immediately past
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
on one occasion
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
Overton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
quivered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
rifle-armed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
sergeantnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
moving very fast
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "I'd sooner be killed at once than disgrace my chevrons."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For one of the rifle-armed strangers had started briskly for the tent that concealed the boyish sergeant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Two swift steps backward, and Sergeant Hal caught up his revolver.
precisely as stated
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading WHEN THE LAST CARTRIDGE WAS GONE WHATEVER was to be done would have to be done in a very few seconds.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Whatever happens, he isn't going to get me alive, if I can help it!" quivered young Overton.
