used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
automatonnounUS /ɔːˈtɑːmətɑːn/
someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
bankingnounUS /ˈbæŋkɪŋ/
engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
crushverbUS /krʌʃ/
come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
dartverbUS /dɑːrt/
move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
floodedadjectiveUS /ˈflʌdəd/
covered with water
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
Gascoigne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
destroyed or killed
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
lairnounUS /ler/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
leaptverbUS /lept/
inflected form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
marvellousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
come together
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
on one occasion
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
and nothing more
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
propellersnounUS /prəˈpelərz/
plural of “propeller” — a mechanical device that rotates to push against air or water
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
right-handadjectiveUS /raɪtˈhænd/
located on or directed toward the right
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
transport commercially
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
spectraladjectiveUS /ˈspektrəl/
of or relating to a spectrum
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
make steady
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
steering-wheel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
successive (without a break)
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
strangely-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
swervedverbUS /swɜːrvd/
past form of “swerve” — turn sharply; change direction abruptly
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading If it had not been for Gascoigne I am sure that I should never have gone through.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
in the direction of
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
waspnounUS /wɑːsp/
a white person of Anglo-Saxon ancestry who belongs to a Protestant denomination
From this reading And then--oh, then--I opened out the marvellous engines; she seemed to shake herself for an instant like a bird poised for a long flight, and, humming like a wasp, she shot up and out to sea....
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE GOLDEN DREAM The strangely-shaped propellers bit the air at once, the walls of the cavern, flooded with spectral light, slid backwards, and as the ship swerved round the curve towards the entrance, the day leapt at us.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The great ship shot out of its lair like a dart; a touch upon the little steering-wheel and she was banking in the terrible right-hand turn; the granite walls seemed rushing to meet and crush her, and only the quick, steady words of command from the prisoner, which like an automaton I obeyed, got her finally into the straight....
WownounUS /waʊ/
a joke that seems extremely funny
From this reading Wow! but it was touch and go during the next ten seconds.
