The general went out to find that none of his GIs were there. One finally ran up, panting heavily.
"Sorry, sir! I can explain, you see I had a date and it ran a little late. I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but it broke down, found a farm, bought a horse but it dropped dead, ran 10 miles, and now I"m here."
The general was very skeptical about this explanation but at least he was here so he let the G.I. go.
Moments later, eight more GIs came up to the general panting, he asked them why they were late.
"Sorry, sir! I had a date and it ran a little late, I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but it broke down, found a farm, bought a horse but it dropped dead, ran 10 miles, and now I"m here."
The general eyed them, feeling very skeptical but since he let the first guy go, he let them go, too.
A ninth GI jogged up to the general, panting heavily. "Sorry, sir! I had a date and it ran a little late, I ran to the bus but missed it, I hailed a cab but..."
"Let me guess," the general interrupted, "it broke down."
"No," said the G.I., "there were so many dead horses in the road, it took forever to get around them."
language n. System of communication by gestures, used esp. By the deaf.
- of the cross n. Christian sign made by tracing a cross with the hand.
- —n. - thing indicating a quality, state, future event, etc. (sign of weakness).
- mark, symbol, etc.
- gesture or action conveying an order etc.
- signboard; signpost.
- each of the twelve divisions of the zodiac. —v. - a (also absol.) Write (one's name) on a document etc. As authorization. B sign (a document) as authorization.
- communicate by gesture (signed to me to come).
- engage or be engaged by signing a contract etc. (see also sign on, sign up). sign away relinquish (property etc.) By signing. Sign in 1 sign a register on arrival.
- get (a person) admitted by signing a register. Sign off 1 end work, broadcasting, etc.
- withdraw one's claim to unemployment benefit after finding work. Sign on 1 agree to a contract etc.
- employ (a person).
- register as unemployed. Sign out sign a register on departing. Sign up 1 engage (a person).
- enlist in the armed forces.
- enrol. [latin signum]
SIKH
n. Member of an indian monotheistic sect. [hindi, = disciple]
SILK
n. - fine soft lustrous fibre produced by silkworms.
- (often attrib.) Thread or cloth from this.
- (in pl.) Cloth or garments of silk, esp. As worn by a jockey.
- colloq. Queen's (or king's) counsel, as having the right to wear a silk gown.
- fine soft thread (embroidery silk). take silk become a queen's (or king's) counsel. [old english sioloc]
SILL
n. Slab of stone, wood, or metal at the foot of a window or doorway. [old english]
SILO
n. (pl. -s) 1 pit or airtight barn etc. In which green crops are kept for fodder.
- pit or tower for storing grain, cement, etc.
- underground storage chamber for a guided missile. [spanish from latin]
SILT
—n. Sediment in a channel, harbour, etc. —v. (often foll. By up) choke or be choked with silt. [perhaps scandinavian]
SINE
die adv. Formal indefinitely (postponed sine die). [latin]
- n. Ratio of the side opposite a given angle (in a right-angled triangle) to the hypotenuse. [latin *sinus]
- qua non n. Indispensable condition or qualification. [latin, = without which not]
SING
—v. (past sang; past part. Sung) 1 utter musical sounds, esp. Words with a set tune.
- utter or produce by singing.
- (of the wind, a kettle, etc.) Hum, buzz, or whistle.
- (of the ears) hear a humming sound.
- slang turn informer.
- (foll. By of) literary celebrate in verse. —n. Act or spell of singing. sing out shout. Sing the praises of praise enthusiastically. singer n. [old english]
SINH
abbr. Math. Hyperbolic sine. [sine, hyperbolic]
SINK
—v. (past sank or sunk; past part. Sunk or as adj. Sunken) 1 fall or come slowly downwards.
- disappear below the horizon.
- a go or penetrate below the surface esp. Of a liquid. B (of a ship) go to the bottom of the sea etc.
- settle comfortably.
- a decline in strength etc. B (of the voice) descend in pitch or volume.
