used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
at or in the front
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
Chinamannoun
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
cleareradjectiveUS /ˈklɪrər/
comparative of “clear” — readily apparent to the mind
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
unvarying in nature
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/
past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
moving swiftly
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
imperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
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 The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
marinesnounUS /mərˈiːnz/
an amphibious division of the United States Navy
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
poppingnounUS /ˈpɑːpɪŋ/
a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
roadsidenounUS /ˈroʊdsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
SEALINGnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the act of treating something to make it repel water
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
sleepy-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
move hurridly
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
squadronnounUS /ˈskwɑːdrən/
a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
superbadjectiveUS /sʊˈpɜːrb/
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now and then the boys were hailed from the roadside, but little attention was paid to these calls.
WAXverbUS /wæks/
cover with wax
From this reading A BIT OF SEALING WAX The night grew clearer as the flying squadron advanced toward the imperial city of China.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The roads were rough in places, but the superb machines carried the boys and their companions at good speed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The constant popping of the engines, the strong lights which flashed ahead, and the voices of the marines brought many a sleepy-faced Chinaman to the door of his home.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading It may well be imagined that the party created something of a sensation as it whirled along.
