used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
actorsnounUS /ˈæktərz/
plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer
From this reading It was the actors, however, who were the most exercised.
(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 One and all they understood what it meant to them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
BoomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading CLOWNS ON THE WING Boom!
CLOWNSnounUS /klaʊnz/
plural of “clown” — a rude or vulgar fool
From this reading CLOWNS ON THE WING Boom!
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
detonationnounUS /ˌdetəˈneɪʃən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
let fall to the ground
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
exercisedverbUS /ˈeksərsaɪzd/
past form of “exercise” — put to use
From this reading It was the actors, however, who were the most exercised.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was the actors, however, who were the most exercised.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
missilesnounUS /ˈmɪsəlz/
plural of “missile” — a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was the actors, however, who were the most exercised.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CLOWNS ON THE WING Boom!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One and all they understood what it meant to them.
in the near future
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
riotnounUS /ˈraɪət/
a public act of violence by an unruly mob
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CLOWNS ON THE WING Boom!
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One and all they understood what it meant to them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One and all they understood what it meant to them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading One and all they understood what it meant to them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
precisely as stated
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the actors, however, who were the most exercised.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What followed that first heavy detonation was very much like a riot.
which person or people
From this reading It was the actors, however, who were the most exercised.
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading CLOWNS ON THE WING Boom!
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The audience became frantic under the belief that it meant an attack on the town, and that the missiles would presently drop upon the roofs, working destruction to everything around.
