used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
(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 It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
convictnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkt/
a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
distancesnounUS /ˈdɪstənsəz/
plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
enviableadjectiveUS /ˈenviəbəl/
causing envy
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
apart from; not including
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
experimentnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənt/
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
frighteningadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtənɪŋ/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
galleysnounUS /ˈɡæliz/
plural of “galley” — a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
in a gradual manner
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
horizontaladjectiveUS /ˌhɔːrəˈzɑːntəl/
parallel to or in the plane of the horizon or a base line
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
ten 10s
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
inconveniencenounUS /ˌɪnkənˈviːnjəns/
an inconvenient discomfort
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
interlacedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈleɪst/
having a pattern of fretwork or latticework
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
not any; not one
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
sea-sickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
seventyadjectiveUS /ˈsevənti/
being ten more than sixty
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
spectatorsnounUS /ˈspekteɪtərz/
plural of “spectator” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
confined on all sides
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading When first launched from a height of seventy feet, his feelings could not have been enviable, and the great mass of spectators watched him in almost breathless silence.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But instead of falling, he went down slowly, and landed on his feet, with no inconvenience except a feeling of sea-sickness.
at the time that
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
whirls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
belonging to which person
From this reading It was tried on a convict from the galleys, whose life was not thought too valuable to risk, and when ready for flight he must have been an object capable of frightening all the birds of the air.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was "surrounded with whirls of feathers, curiously interlaced, and extending gradually at suitable distances in a horizontal direction from his feet to his neck."
a late time of life
From this reading Another experiment, which was made three hundred years later, was more successful.
