used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
banishverbUS /ˈbænɪʃ/
expel from a community or group
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Such was the case with Don Hale.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
dangersnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒərz/
plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading Such was the case with Don Hale.
duelnounUS /ˈduːəl/
a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
facultiesnounUS /ˈfækəltiz/
plural of “faculty” — one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
obtain
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
gravestadjectiveUS /ˈɡrævəst/
superlative of “grave” — dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
HalenounUS /heɪl/
a soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British; his last words were supposed to have been `I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country' (1755-1776)
From this reading Such was the case with Don Hale.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
humanlyadverbUS /ˈhjuːmənli/
in the manner of human beings
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
injunctionnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
a formal command or admonition
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
and nothing more
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
masterynounUS /ˈmæstəri/
great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
of an obscure nature
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
obeyingverbUS /oʊˈbeɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
with speed
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
self-preservationnoun
preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
showersnounUS /ˈʃaʊərz/
plural of “shower” — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such was the case with Don Hale.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
threatenverbUS /ˈθretən/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
tossingverbUS /ˈtɔːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
turbulentadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrbjələnt/
characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As quickly as it was humanly possible to do so, he turned his plane so that the engine was between him and the showers of bullets.
vapornounUS /ˈveɪpər/
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading And thus began a terrible duel in the air just beneath the tossing edges of heavy and turbulent masses of vapor.
Vickers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, obeying the injunction that self-preservation is the first law of nature, he set the Vickers machine gun into action.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such was the case with Don Hale.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
at the time that
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At times, when the gravest dangers threaten, the human faculties, in some mysterious way, gain a strength and mastery which completely banish terror.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Such was the case with Don Hale.
