used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Other lookouts were black, the dead black of empty space.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
Chet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
intentionally conceived
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
control-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Other lookouts were black, the dead black of empty space.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Other lookouts were black, the dead black of empty space.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
focusnounUS /ˈfoʊkəs/
the concentration of attention or energy on something
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
illumineverb
make lighter or brighter
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
IntoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
immediately past
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
lookouts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other lookouts were black, the dead black of empty space.
plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Other lookouts were black, the dead black of empty space.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
pulsingnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪŋ/
(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
transport commercially
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
slantinglyadverb
with a slant
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
speedingnounUS /ˈspiːdɪŋ/
changing location rapidly
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
stabbedverbUS /stæbd/
inflected form of “stab” — use a knife on
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
successive (without a break)
From this reading But, from the one port that caught the brighter light, came that straight ray to illumine the room.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
sunsnounUS /sʌnz/
plural of “sun” — the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Then, as objects came slowly into focus before his eyes, he knew that above him a ray of light was striking slantingly through the thick glass of a control-room lookout.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Into Space_ A pulsing pain that stabbed through his head was Chet's first conscious impression.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Other lookouts were black, the dead black of empty space.
a late time of life
From this reading Through them, sparkling points of fire showed here and there--suns, sending their light across millions of years to strike at last on a speeding ship.
