used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
airportnounUS /ˈerpɔːrt/
an airfield equipped with control tower and hangars as well as accommodations for passengers and cargo
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
(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 only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
discouragedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɜːrədʒd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
excursionnounUS /ɪkˈskɜːrʒən/
a journey taken for pleasure
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
the act of departing
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
Mackay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
Magee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
outcomenounUS /ˈaʊtkʌm/
something that results
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
stavenounUS /steɪv/
(music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
TednounUS /ted/
a tough youth of 1950's and 1960's wearing Edwardian style clothes
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading After leaving the plane at the airport, Ted called Captain Magee on the telephone, and briefly related the results of their flight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Searching the Ocean_ Louise and Ted Mackay did not go to the police headquarters that night.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading It was only by putting forth a tremendous effort that they ate at all--in an attempt to stave off exhaustion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Supper was a dreary affair for them both.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were too miserable, too discouraged by the outcome of their excursion to the island.
