used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
acridadjectiveUS /ˈæk.rɪd/
Having an unpleasantly bitter or pungent taste or smell.
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
angularadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡjələr/
measured by an angle or by the rate of change of an angle
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
barbedadjectiveUS /bɑːrbd/
capable of wounding
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
ChesternounUS /ˈtʃestər/
a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
Duchal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
Earthmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
emergeverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒ/
come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
FarrellnounUS /ˈferɪl/
United States writer remembered for his novels (1904-1979)
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
enclose with a fence
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
gloriouslyadverbUS /ˈɡlɔːriəsli/
with glory or in a glorious manner
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
impotentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmpətənt/
lacking power or ability
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
MartiannounUS /ˈmɑːrʃən/
imaginary people who live on the planet Mars
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
MartiansnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃənz/
plural of “martian” — imaginary people who live on the planet Mars
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
mazenounUS /meɪz/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
mentallyadverbUS /ˈmentəli/
in your mind
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
odorsnounUS /ˈoʊdərz/
plural of “odor” — any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
and nothing more
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
having a point
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
any competition
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
skillfuladjectiveUS /ˈskɪlfəl/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
slyadjectiveUS /slaɪ/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
spaceshipsnounUS /ˈspeɪsʃɪps/
plural of “spaceship” — a spacecraft designed to carry a crew into interstellar space (especially in science fiction)
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
star-studded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
starlightnounUS /ˈstɑːrlaɪt/
the light of the stars
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/
the quality of being superior
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The slender ships gleamed dully in the starlight as they rested on the red desert.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows toward a star-studded sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, frail and impotent before the superiority of master Earthmen.
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Only in the sly and mentally skillful game of Duchal might sons of the red planet emerge gloriously from their shells._ Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the barbed wire fence.
