used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
(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 This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
react verbally
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But what would that life be?
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what would that life be?
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
floppedverbUS /flɑːpt/
inflected form of “flop” — fall loosely
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
Harkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
monstrousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːnstrəs/
abnormally large
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
nitrogennounUS /ˈnaɪtrədʒən/
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
oxygennounUS /ˈɑːksədʒən/
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
pilotingnounUS /ˈpaɪlətɪŋ/
the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
preponderatingadjective
having superior power and influence
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
transport commercially
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
spectro-analyzer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
a special situation
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
TrappedadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had seen the outer pressure build up to that of the air of Earth; the spectro-analyzer had shown nitrogen preponderating, with sufficient oxygen to support life.
uppermostadjectiveUS /ˈʌpərmoʊst/
at or nearest to the top
From this reading This was the question uppermost in the minds of all three as they stepped forth--the first of Earth's people to ask the question and to find the answer.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what would that life be?
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading And, below him, a monstrous thing that flopped hurriedly away on leather wings had told him that life was there.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading _Trapped_ Walter Harkness, piloting his ship to a slow, safe landing on a new world, had watched his instruments with care.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But what would that life be?
