used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
(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 He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I was looking at the battle,” answered Gilbert.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “What are you doing up here?” demanded the corporal.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I was looking at the battle,” answered Gilbert.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading “I was looking at the battle,” answered Gilbert.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
boldlyadverbUS /ˈboʊldli/
with boldness, in a bold manner
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
corporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/
a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “What are you doing up here?” demanded the corporal.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “What are you doing up here?” demanded the corporal.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
GilbertnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərt/
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “What are you doing up here?” demanded the corporal.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was looking at the battle,” answered Gilbert.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “I was looking at the battle,” answered Gilbert.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
privatesnounUS /ˈpraɪvəts/
external sex organ
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
established beyond doubt
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
uniformsnounUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/
plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “What are you doing up here?” demanded the corporal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was too late to back out or hide and he faced the man boldly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What are you doing up here?” demanded the corporal.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading He proved to be a corporal, and behind him were several Russian privates, all in heavy winter uniforms, for the day was stinging cold.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN ESCAPE AND A FIGHT From the tone of the speaker Gilbert realized that he had a rough individual with whom to deal.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What are you doing up here?” demanded the corporal.
