used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS.
adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Dizziness, or vertigo, is unheard of among aëronauts.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
aëronauts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dizziness, or vertigo, is unheard of among aëronauts.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
BOWSnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading A SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS.
buoyantadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪənt/
tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
DizzinessnounUS /ˈdɪzinəs/
a reeling sensation; a feeling that you are about to fall
From this reading Dizziness, or vertigo, is unheard of among aëronauts.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
indescribableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/
defying expression or description
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
lightnessnounUS /ˈlaɪtnəs/
a feeling of joy and pride
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Dizziness, or vertigo, is unheard of among aëronauts.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
Identical; not different.
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading A SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The sensation of gliding through the air, entirely cut adrift from solid ground, is as novel as it is pleasant.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The body seems suddenly to have acquired an indescribable lightness, and the spirits become equally buoyant.
unheardadjectiveUS /ənˈhɜːrd/
not necessarily inaudible but not heard
From this reading Dizziness, or vertigo, is unheard of among aëronauts.
unruffledadjectiveUS /ənˈrʌfəld/
free from emotional agitation or nervous tension
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
vertigonounUS /ˈvɜːrtɪɡoʊ/
a reeling sensation; a feeling that you are about to fall
From this reading Dizziness, or vertigo, is unheard of among aëronauts.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading While on the ground a man may not be able to climb a ladder for a distance of ten feet without losing his head and falling, the same man can look downward for thousands of feet from a balloon with his nerves unruffled.
