used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
boardedverbUS /ˈbɔːrdəd/
past form of “board” — get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading He wouldn't resist when they boarded.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
contactedverbUS /ˈkɑːntæktɪd/
past form of “contact” — be in or establish communication with
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading No, it wouldn't do.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
endangerverbUS /enˈdeɪndʒər/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
flame-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
foolishlyadverbUS /ˈfuːlɪʃli/
without good sense or judgment
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
a young female
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No, it wouldn't do.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
not any; not one
From this reading No, it wouldn't do.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
and nothing more
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading He wouldn't resist when they boarded.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
space-wireless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He reached for the flame-gun at his belt, then glanced at the pale features of the girl on the swinging couch.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wouldn't resist when they boarded.
They'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A chattering of the space-wireless signal told him he was being contacted for communication.
at the time that
From this reading He wouldn't resist when they boarded.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They'd get him in the end and it would only endanger her life foolishly.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, it wouldn't do.
