used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
quickly and without warning
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
Earthmannoun
an inhabitant of the earth
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
extraterrestrialsnounUS /ˌekstrətɜːrˈestriəlz/
plural of “extraterrestrial” — a form of life assumed to exist outside the Earth or its atmosphere
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
Fless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
Flesso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/
inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
MartennounUS /ˈmɑːrtən/
agile slender-bodied arboreal mustelids somewhat larger than weasels
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
Marten's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
mid-flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
a particular point in time
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
not any; not one
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
paralyzedadjectiveUS /ˈperəlaɪzd/
affected with paralysis
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
QuadrantnounUS /ˈkwɑːdrənt/
a quarter of the circumference of a circle
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
transport commercially
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
slammedverbUS /slæmd/
inflected form of “slam” — close violently
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
threadingverbUS /ˈθredɪŋ/
-ing form of “thread” — to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
tractor-beam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading He had been in the Fourth Quadrant of Fless territory, threading an uneasy course through the extraterrestrials' home grounds, but he hadn't expected to be caught so suddenly or so hard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the first time a Flesso had met an Earthman face to face.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The ship stopped in mid-flight abruptly--so abruptly that Marten's head was slammed back against the rear of the seat, and for a moment he was paralyzed by the shock of what had happened.
at the time that
From this reading Marten wasn't prepared for it when the alien tractor-beam grabbed his little ship.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading And the Flesso appeared puzzled as to why the Earthman showed no fear!
