used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
anew
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The screw ceased its mad and useless revolutions.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading He rushed into the engine-room and checked them.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
engine-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rushed into the engine-room and checked them.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rushed into the engine-room and checked them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He rushed into the engine-room and checked them.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The screw ceased its mad and useless revolutions.
JrnounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
a son who has the same first name as his father
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
roused to anger
From this reading The screw ceased its mad and useless revolutions.
with speed
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
Reade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
revolutionsnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃənz/
plural of “revolution” — a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
From this reading The screw ceased its mad and useless revolutions.
done under pressure
From this reading He rushed into the engine-room and checked them.
screwnounUS /skruː/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading The screw ceased its mad and useless revolutions.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
smashverbUS /smæʃ/
hit hard
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He rushed into the engine-room and checked them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The crash had for an instant broken the current, but the light quickly flashed up again.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading The screw ceased its mad and useless revolutions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Frank Reade, Jr., was almost instantly upon his feet.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
whirringnounUS /ˈwɜːrɪŋ/
sound of something in rapid motion
From this reading The electric engines were whirring like a top, and seemed likely to go to smash.
