used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
ABLAZEadjectiveUS /əˈbleɪz/
keenly excited (especially sexually) or indicating excitement
From this reading ABLAZE IN THE AIR.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading Aëroplane flying, in a large measure, is a knack, and must be acquired.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading ABLAZE IN THE AIR.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
aviatornounUS /ˈeɪvieɪtər/
someone who operates an aircraft
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
aëronaut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
aëroplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
ballastnounUS /ˈbæləst/
any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Aëroplane flying, in a large measure, is a knack, and must be acquired.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
CometnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
dexteritynounUS /dekˈsterəti/
adroitness in using the hands
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
move gently or carefully
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
moving swiftly
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
heavier-than-airadjective
relating to an aircraft heavier than the air it displaces
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ABLAZE IN THE AIR.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
knacknounUS /næk/
a special way of doing something
From this reading Aëroplane flying, in a large measure, is a knack, and must be acquired.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Aëroplane flying, in a large measure, is a knack, and must be acquired.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Aëroplane flying, in a large measure, is a knack, and must be acquired.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
and nothing more
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
quicknessnounUS /ˈkwɪknəs/
skillful performance or ability without difficulty
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
relyverbUS /rɪˈlaɪ/
have faith or confidence in
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
carry out
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ABLAZE IN THE AIR.
propel through the air
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
vastlyadverbUS /ˈvæstli/
to an exceedingly great extent or degree
From this reading Flying in an aëroplane is vastly more difficult than sailing in a balloon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
at the time that
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading In the case of a gas bag, an aëronaut has only to throw out ballast, take his ease, and trust to luck; but, with a heavier-than-air machine, the aviator must rely upon the quickness of his wits and his dexterity.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading When the king of the motor boys was in the air with the _Comet_, every power of mind and body was trained to the work of looking after the machine.
