used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
the two together, not just one
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
cargonounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
civilian's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
ColumbianounUS /kəˈlʌmbiə/
a North American river; rises in southwestern Canada and flows southward across Washington to form the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific; known for its salmon runs in the spring
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
donnedverbUS /dɑːnd/
inflected form of “don” — put clothing on one's body
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/
a specially long, formal letter
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
GilbertnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərt/
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
and nothing more
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ben and Larry!” he murmured.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
come together
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading “Ben and Larry!” he murmured.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
Russell'snounUS /ˈrʌsəlz/
possessive form of “russell” — United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
not in physical motion
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
a source of difficulty
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
TROUBLESOMEadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
volunteersnounUS /ˌvɑːlənˈtɪrz/
plural of “volunteer” — (military) a person who freely enlists for service
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading TROUBLESOME DAYS IN PORT ARTHUR Gilbert read Ben Russell’s letter with keen interest.
showing curiosity
From this reading And then he fell to wondering if Ben was still wearing his uniform as a captain of the volunteers, or if he had donned civilian’s costume.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The contents surprised him, just as his chum had thought they would, and he drew a long sigh of uncertainty as he laid the epistle down.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, I’ll be more than glad to meet them both, but if the old _Columbia_ gets into trouble with her cargo, what will become of them?”
