used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
airlessadjectiveUS /ˈerləs/
lacking fresh air
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
ChapmannounUS /ˈtʃæpmən/
United States pioneer who planted apple trees as he traveled (1774-1845)
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
chauffeurnounUS /ʃoʊˈfɜːr/
a man paid to drive a privately owned car
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
CressonadjectiveUS /ˈkresən/
of a moderate yellow-green color that is greener and deeper than moss green and yellower and darker than pea green
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
being one more than seven
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
emergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
coming to maturity
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
favorableadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪvərəbəl/
encouraging or approving or pleasing
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
Ferguson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
FordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
and nothing more
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
kidnapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/
the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
limousinenounUS /ˈlɪməziːn/
large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
pikenounUS /paɪk/
a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
racernounUS /ˈreɪsər/
someone who drives racing cars at high speeds
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
roadsternounUS /ˈroʊdstər/
an open automobile having a front seat and a rumble seat
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
runaboutnounUS /ˈrʌnəbaʊt/
an open automobile having a front seat and a rumble seat
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
satellitesnounUS /ˈsætəlaɪts/
plural of “satellite” — man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
Saunders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
strungadjectiveUS /strʌŋ/
that is on a string
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
ten-mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
touringverbUS /ˈtʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “tour” — make a tour of a certain place
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
TurnpikenounUS /ˈtɜːrnpaɪk/
(from 16th to 19th centuries) gates set across a road to prevent passage until a toll had been paid
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Twenty minutes later a limousine was to strike into the pike from a road just beyond the village, and a runabout, emerging from an opposite direction, complete the chain.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
unfortunatelyadverbUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by bad luck
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At the other end of the ten-mile limit Chapman Price in the black racer, was running up from the shore drive, with two satellites, one his own motor, one a hired Ford, strung out behind him.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading At half-past eight the roadster, with Ferguson driving, glided into the little village of North Cresson and swung out into the Cresson Turnpike.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Ten minutes behind him was his touring car with Saunders, his chauffeur, at the wheel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading The night fell stifling and airless, unfortunately favorable for the kidnapers, as the sky was covered with clouds and the country wrapped in a thick darkness.
