used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
anew
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
eagerly desirous
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE DOOR.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading "The gunboat has captured the _Manhattan_," he said, facing Ned.
Carstens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE DOOR.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
explodingverbUS /ɪkˈsploʊdɪŋ/
-ing form of “explode” — cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading "The gunboat has captured the _Manhattan_," he said, facing Ned.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
brought together in one place
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
gunboatnounUS /ˈɡʌnboʊt/
a small shallow-draft boat carrying mounted guns; used by costal patrols
From this reading "The gunboat has captured the _Manhattan_," he said, facing Ned.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The gunboat has captured the _Manhattan_," he said, facing Ned.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
malevolentadjectiveUS /məˈlevələnt/
wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE DOOR.
ManhattannounUS /mænˈhætən/
one of the five boroughs of New York City
From this reading "The gunboat has captured the _Manhattan_," he said, facing Ned.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The gunboat has captured the _Manhattan_," he said, facing Ned.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
puffverbUS /pʌf/
smoke and exhale strongly
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
with speed
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
rocketnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/
any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "The gunboat has captured the _Manhattan_," he said, facing Ned.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE DOOR.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a second later that the puff of the exploding rocket reached the ears of those gathered about the boxes on the island, for sound does not travel as rapidly as light.
at the time that
From this reading When it came, Lieutenant Carstens made a dash for the side of the mountain and began the ascent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After ten anxious minutes he was back again with a malevolent grin on his face.
