used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
in a state of sleep
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
cartridgenounUS /ˈkɑːrtrədʒ/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
opinion or judgment
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
the act of retaining something
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
provided with artificial light
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
lollingverbUS /ˈlɑːlɪŋ/
-ing form of “loll” — hang loosely or laxly
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
neutralitynounUS /nuːˈtræləti/
nonparticipation in a dispute or war
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
posturenounUS /ˈpɑːstʃər/
the arrangement of the body and its limbs
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
prudentadjectiveUS /ˈpruːdənt/
careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
cut with a saw
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
Starland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By and by his eyes closed and Major Starland saw that he slept.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a position of armed neutrality.
tillernounUS /ˈtɪlər/
a shoot that sprouts from the base of a grass
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
except if; if not
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will be to pay.
yawnedverbUS /jɔːnd/
past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired
From this reading The American arose to his feet, yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in place between his knees.
