used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
aeronauticsnounUS /ˌerəˈnɔːtɪks/
the theory and practice of navigation through air or space
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
rid of obstructions
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
debrisnounUS /dəˈbriː/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
experimentsnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənts/
plural of “experiment” — the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
Fulton'snounUS /ˈfʊltənz/
possessive form of “fulton” — American inventor who designed the first commercially successful steamboat and the first steam warship (1765-1815)
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
JerrynounUS /ˈdʒeri/
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He remembered the long, low shed on the island--that was the workshop.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He remembered the long, low shed on the island--that was the workshop.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
and nothing more
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
not any; not one
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He remembered the long, low shed on the island--that was the workshop.
on one occasion
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading He remembered the long, low shed on the island--that was the workshop.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
rodsnounUS /rɑːdz/
plural of “rod” — a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
get rid of
From this reading He remembered the long, low shed on the island--that was the workshop.
SHELLnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
splinteredverbUS /ˈsplɪntərd/
past form of “splinter” — withdraw from an organization or communion
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
up to a particular time
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
tuggingverbUS /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He realized that Lost Island had been merely a building ground for Mr. Fulton's experiments in aeronautics, that this sorry looking ruin was his invention.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Fortunately there was no great weight to lift, and there was really no fire once the smoke of the explosion had cleared away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
workshopnounUS /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːp/
small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done
From this reading He remembered the long, low shed on the island--that was the workshop.
wreckagenounUS /ˈrekədʒ/
the remaining parts of something that has been wrecked
From this reading AN EMPTY RIFLE SHELL In that few steps till they reached the smoking mass of wreckage, many things became clear to Jerry.
wreckedadjectiveUS /rekt/
destroyed in an accident
From this reading Then they were at the verge of the twisted and wrecked machine, frantically tugging at rods and splintered wood in an effort to get at the unconscious form covered by the debris.
