used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
disappearingnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrɪŋ/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading In two or three minutes it was disappearing.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/
reflecting light
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
destroyed or killed
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
ten 10s
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In two or three minutes it was disappearing.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading In two or three minutes it was disappearing.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In two or three minutes it was disappearing.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
move upward
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading It must have been rising at fully three hundred miles an hour!
cut with a saw
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
transport commercially
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
in a swift manner
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
in or at that place or location
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading In two or three minutes it was disappearing.
very small
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The glistening ship shrank to a tiny point of light; then it was gone!
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
tremendousadjectiveUS /trəˈmendəs/
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In two or three minutes it was disappearing.
vaultnounUS /vɒlt/
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading The men outside saw it rise swiftly into the sky, straight toward the blue vault of heaven.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In two or three minutes it was disappearing.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading To the men in the car there had been a tremendous increase in weight that had forced them into the air cushions like leaden masses.
