Chapter VII · Chapter 7

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

plural of “battery” — group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

having a common center

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

so thin as to transmit light

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

-ing form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

being one more than seven

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

possessive form of “enemy” — an opposing military force

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

divisible by two

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

a person of German nationality

From this reading They were German shrapnel.

(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

and nothing more

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

the act of departing

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

an insignificant place

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight

From this reading They were German shrapnel.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

in or at or to some place

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

light that streams

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading As it hovered above the ridge seven or eight little white clouds like balls of feathers suddenly appeared from nowhere just below it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

up to a particular time

From this reading But the aeroplane passed imperturbably on, leaving the little feathers to float in the sky until in time they faded away and disappeared.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.

during the time that

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

a Caucasian

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

a means of flight or ascent

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But even as we searched the landscape with our field-glasses an aeroplane rose from behind our own position and made for the distant ridge, its diaphanous wings displaying red, white, and blue concentric circles to our glasses like the scales of some huge magpie-moth, while a long streamer of petrol smoke made faint pencillings in the sky behind it.

but in spite of that

From this reading Somewhere behind that ridge were the enemy's batteries and they were yet to find.