used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading "A dead planet," Colonel Mattern exclaimed bitterly.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading "A dead planet," Colonel Mattern exclaimed bitterly.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "A dead planet," Colonel Mattern exclaimed bitterly.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
immediately past
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
Mattern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A dead planet," Colonel Mattern exclaimed bitterly.
mightieradjectiveUS /ˈmaɪtiər/
comparative of “mighty” — having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
on one occasion
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
orbitedverbUS /ˈɔːrbətəd/
past form of “orbit” — move in an orbit
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
precisely, exactly
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
sereadjectiveUS /sɪr/
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
transport commercially
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
SolnounUS /sɑːl/
a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
staffsnounUS /stæfs/
plural of “staff” — personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
strifenounUS /straɪf/
lack of agreement or harmony
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
ten-to-the-sixth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading That was our first impression, as our ship orbited down to its sere brown surface, and as it happened our first impression turned out to be right.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _There was open strife between the military and scientific staffs.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading There had been a civilization here _once_--but Earth had swung around Sol ten-to-the-sixth times since the last living being of this world had drawn breath.
a late time of life
From this reading But which was mightier?_ The planet had been dead about a million years.
