Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

according with custom or propriety

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

English printer who in 1474 printed the first book in English (1422-1491)

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

painful from having the skin abraded

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

a nonmilitary citizen

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

clothing in general

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

past form of “command” — be in command of

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

plural of “ditch” — a long narrow excavation in the earth

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

divisible by two

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

the act of consuming food

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

place in proper rank

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

United States evangelist (born in Canada) noted for her extravagant religious services (1890-1944)

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a boy who delivers newspapers

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

make less visible or unclear

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

on one occasion

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

the event of something being raised upward

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

the military uniform and insignia of a regiment

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

continued in your keeping or use or memory

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

plural of “robe” — any loose flowing garment

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

shake, as from cold

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

plural of “steer” — an indication of potential opportunity

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

having come into contact

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He chafed under the fact of his present obscure position in life.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading He could not forget that he had once been a sergeant in a regiment of infantry and had commanded a company through a battle fought in ditches along a Virginia country road.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes

From this reading Windy McPherson, the father of the Caxton newsboy, Sam McPherson, had been war touched.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Had he been able to replace his regimentals with the robes of a judge, the felt hat of a statesman, or even with the night stick of a village marshal life might have retained something of its sweetness, but to have ended by becoming an obscure housepainter in a village that lived by raising corn and by feeding that corn to red steers--ugh!--the thought made him shudder.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading The civilian clothes that he wore caused an itching of the skin.