used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
(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 "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
ANNUS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
Blackett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A captain at twenty is somewhat unlikely," Blackett went on.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "A captain at twenty is somewhat unlikely," Blackett went on.
captainsnounUS /ˈkæptənz/
plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
condoling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
congratulationsnounUS /kənˌɡrætʃəˈleɪʃənz/
an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
dearly loved
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
an act that fails
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
Fairburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
friend'snounUS /frendz/
possessive form of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
glorifiedadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːrəfaɪd/
accorded sacrosanct or authoritative standing
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
the act of departing
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
heartyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrti/
showing warm and heartfelt friendliness
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I suppose so," replied George.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "A captain at twenty is somewhat unlikely," Blackett went on.
a boy or man
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
the sound of laughing
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
engage in
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
MatthewnounUS /ˈmæθjuː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
MIRABILISnoun
four o'clocks
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
and nothing more
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "I suppose so," replied George.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
schoolboysnounUS /ˈskuːlbɔɪz/
plural of “schoolboy” — a boy attending school
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I suppose so," replied George.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading "A captain at twenty is somewhat unlikely," Blackett went on.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose so," replied George.
express in words
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ANNUS MIRABILIS "Don't imagine, my dear lad, that they are going to make captains of mere boys like ourselves."
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading "A captain at twenty is somewhat unlikely," Blackett went on.
unlikelyadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪkli/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading "A captain at twenty is somewhat unlikely," Blackett went on.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "After all we are only glorified schoolboys, some of our fellows tell us.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "A captain at twenty is somewhat unlikely," Blackett went on.
at the time that
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was the reply, given with a hearty laugh, when George Fairburn, after receiving his friend's warm congratulations at the close of the inspection, was condoling with Matthew on his failure to get his step.
