used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
Clancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The usual thing happened.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
roused to anger
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
engage in
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
silhouetteverbUS /ˌsɪləˈwet/
project on a background, such as a screen, like a silhouette
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Clancy thought so.
in the near future
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
SpaniardsnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/
plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
be standing; be upright
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The usual thing happened.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
a special situation
From this reading The usual thing happened.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As soon as the Spaniards caught sight of this silhouette, they let go like mad at it.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Clancy thought so.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading To make things more comfortable for Clancy, the situation demanded that he face the sea and turn his back to the Spanish bullets.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The usual thing happened.
volleynounUS /ˈvɑːli/
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This was a hard game, mark you--to stand with the small of your back to volley firing.
