used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
quickly and without warning
From this reading Just as abruptly he turned and raced up the ascending slidestairs.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
Alfie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading Just as abruptly he turned and raced up the ascending slidestairs.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
assignmentnounUS /əˈsaɪnmənt/
a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces)
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
Astro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
cadetnounUS /kəˈdet/
a military trainee (as at a military academy)
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
experimentsnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənts/
plural of “experiment” — the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
the act of departing
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/
inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
hallsnounUS /hɔːlz/
plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
jokedverbUS /dʒoʊkt/
past form of “joke” — tell a joke; speak humorously
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as abruptly he turned and raced up the ascending slidestairs.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading Just as abruptly he turned and raced up the ascending slidestairs.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
slidestairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
carry out
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
male cat
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
unitsnounUS /ˈjuːnəts/
plural of “unit” — any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What was that about?" asked Roger, as Tom stood staring after the little cadet.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading Suddenly he stopped, grabbed Tom by the shoulders, and whispered in his ear.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As Astro and Roger joked with various cadet units, forming up in front of the slidestairs leading down to the mess halls, Alfie turned to take a slidestairs going up.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Roger--he--he said our next assignment would be one of the great experiments in space history.
