used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
matters of personal concern
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
(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 All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading As it struck the hill it wound around it like a veil.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it struck the hill it wound around it like a veil.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
biplanenounUS /ˈbaɪpleɪn/
old fashioned airplane; has two wings one above the other
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading “And see—the wind is changing—whew!”
cloudedadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdɪd/
made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
downwardsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
engrossedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈɡroʊst/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
EXCITINGadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
start firing a weapon
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
high-upnoun
an important or influential (and often overbearing) person
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading As it struck the hill it wound around it like a veil.
Hiram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As it struck the hill it wound around it like a veil.
a particular point in time
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
being perceived or observed
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “And see—the wind is changing—whew!”
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading As it struck the hill it wound around it like a veil.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind drove the smoke downwards.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “And see—the wind is changing—whew!”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
in or at that place or location
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
vapornounUS /ˈveɪpər/
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually clouded the sun.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading As it struck the hill it wound around it like a veil.
whew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And see—the wind is changing—whew!”
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading “And see—the wind is changing—whew!”
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading As it struck the hill it wound around it like a veil.
an affirmative
From this reading AN EXCITING MOMENT “Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram.
