used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
achievedverbUS /əˈtʃiːvd/
past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
AlabamanounUS /ˌæləˈbæmə/
a state in the southeastern United States on the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
(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 FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
assignverbUS /əˈsaɪn/
give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
awkward-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
Axion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
bladesnounUS /bleɪdz/
plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
travel across or pass over
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
DanenounUS /deɪn/
a native or inhabitant of Denmark
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
flood-tortured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
floodedadjectiveUS /ˈflʌdəd/
covered with water
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
gyroscopenounUS /ˈdʒaɪrəskoʊp/
rotating mechanism in the form of a universally mounted spinning wheel that offers resistance to turns in any direction
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
ten 10s
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
Huntley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
limberadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmbər/
(used of e.g. personality traits) readily adaptable
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
something that is lost
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
engage in
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
maximumnounUS /ˈmæksəməm/
the largest possible quantity
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
mileagenounUS /ˈmaɪlədʒ/
distance measured in miles
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
plannedadjectiveUS /plænd/
designed or carried out according to a plan
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
on the contrary
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
recordsnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdz/
plural of “record” — anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
rotornounUS /ˈroʊtər/
the rotating armature of a motor or generator
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
signedadjectiveUS /saɪnd/
having a handwritten signature
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
southlandnounUS /ˈsaʊθlænd/
any region lying in or toward the south
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
move hurridly
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
squatverbUS /skwɑːt/
sit on one's heels
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The squat gyroscope had been planned for safety, rather than making mileage records.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
TORRENTnounUS /ˈtɔːrənt/
a heavy rain
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
at the time that
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
whirls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
which person or people
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had already signed up with the Red Cross department in his own city, and had gotten his instructions.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading FIGHTING THE TORRENT To make the trip from Axion down into the flood-tortured southland without any further loss of time, Hal Dane set out to fly all night.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was to report to Major Huntley, in charge of the Alabama flooded district, who would assign him his work.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet when those limber, awkward-looking rotor blades began to reach their maximum of two thousand whirls a minute, why, the strange craft achieved a speed of near a hundred miles an hour!
