used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
eagerly desirous
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
barrel-chested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him, Lance O'Dea clung to a chart table and growled.
Centaurians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
chartnounUS /tʃɑːrt/
a visual display of information
From this reading Behind him, Lance O'Dea clung to a chart table and growled.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Behind him, Lance O'Dea clung to a chart table and growled.
conquerverbUS /ˈkɑːŋkər/
bring under control by force or authority
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
controlsnounUS /kənˈtroʊlz/
plural of “control” — power to direct or determine
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
flaresnounUS /flerz/
plural of “flare” — a shape that spreads outward
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
growledverbUS /ɡraʊld/
past form of “growl” — to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds
From this reading Behind him, Lance O'Dea clung to a chart table and growled.
guysnounUS /ɡaɪz/
plural of “guy” — an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
HawthornenounUS /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/
United States writer of novels and short stories mostly on moral themes (1804-1864)
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him, Lance O'Dea clung to a chart table and growled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Put it down!"
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
LancenounUS /læns/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading Behind him, Lance O'Dea clung to a chart table and growled.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
immediately past
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
provided with artificial light
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
murderousadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərəs/
characteristic of or capable of or having a tendency toward killing another human being
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
O'Dea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
partly-crippled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Put it down!"
rocketsnounUS /ˈrɑːkəts/
plural of “rocket” — any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
transport commercially
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
space-jaunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
in a swift manner
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Behind him, Lance O'Dea clung to a chart table and growled.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
toolsnounUS /tuːlz/
plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading He fought to keep the ship from falling too swiftly, anxious eyes searching for a level spot to set down the partly-crippled vessel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
wise-cracking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The Centaurians were making one last effort to conquer Earth, and their tools were wise-cracking, space-jaunting O'Dea and Hawthorne--two guys to whom _freedom_ was more than a word.
wrestledverbUS /ˈresəld/
past form of “wrestle” — combat to overcome an opposing tendency or force
From this reading The frantic flares of the rockets lit up a murderous landscape as barrel-chested Paul Hawthorne wrestled with the controls.
