used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
anew
From this reading Look!" cried the crowd, again and again.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Look!" cried the crowd, again and again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
bat-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading GOOD NEWS--CONCLUSION "Look!
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Look!" cried the crowd, again and again.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Look!" cried the crowd, again and again.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading GOOD NEWS--CONCLUSION "Look!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading GOOD NEWS--CONCLUSION "Look!
information about recent and important events
From this reading GOOD NEWS--CONCLUSION "Look!
not any; not one
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
parachutenounUS /ˈperəʃuːt/
rescue equipment consisting of a device that fills with air and retards your fall
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Look!" cried the crowd, again and again.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest danger.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings.
