used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
AndesnounUS /ˈændiz/
a mountain range in South America running 5000 miles along the Pacific coast
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading In our new vista there were remarkably few clouds.
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
comprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/
including all or everything
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
crescentnounUS /ˈkresənt/
any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
featurenounUS /ˈfiːtʃər/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In our new vista there were remarkably few clouds.
many times at short intervals
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In our new vista there were remarkably few clouds.
infinitelyadverbUS /ˈɪnfənətli/
without bounds
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
set afire or burning
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/
a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In our new vista there were remarkably few clouds.
not any; not one
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
obscuredverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrd/
past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
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 We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
having a point
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
with speed
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
recedingnounUS /rɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
a slow or gradual disappearance
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
remarkablyadverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading In our new vista there were remarkably few clouds.
seasnounUS /siːz/
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There were a few pale mists here and there over the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had frequently obscured the Earth.
telescopeverbUS /ˈteləskoʊp/
crush together or collapse
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In our new vista there were remarkably few clouds.
vaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
vistanounUS /ˈvɪstə/
the visual percept of a region
From this reading In our new vista there were remarkably few clouds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
at the time that
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading We were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, whereas we had then been rapidly receding from the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why Mars gives a Red Light Our telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, and we were observing every feature as we approached him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Compared with the illuminated crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when we were observing the Andes, our present view was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive.
