Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
addition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
APPOINT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
assemblage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
Bismark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
calling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
compulsion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
confessedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
conspicuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
corps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
custom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
declinenounUS /dɪˈklaɪn/
a gradual loss of health and strength
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
declining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
dueling-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
duels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
everywhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
exempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
fight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
Fought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
freshman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
hurts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
joined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
laws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
measure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
member
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
membership
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
mingled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
notices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
president
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
properly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
sophomore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
stronger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
student
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
surgeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
swords
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
unpleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
usages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
volunteering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
volunteers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading [How Bismark Fought] In addition to the corps laws, there are some corps usages which have the force of laws.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Perhaps the president of a corps notices that one of the membership who is no longer an exempt--that is a freshman--has remained a sophomore some little time without volunteering to fight; some day, the president, instead of calling for volunteers, will APPOINT this sophomore to measure swords with a student of another corps; he is free to decline--everybody says so--there is no compulsion.
witnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten men whose duels I had witnessed did not go away when their hurts were dressed, as I had supposed they would, but came back, one after another, as soon as they were free of the surgeon, and mingled with the assemblage in the dueling-room.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This is all true--but I have not heard of any student who DID decline; to decline and still remain in the corps would make him unpleasantly conspicuous, and properly so, since he knew, when he joined, that his main business, as a member, would be to fight.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, there is no law against declining--except the law of custom, which is confessedly stronger than written law, everywhere.
