used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SAFE RETURN.
altitudenounUS /ˈæltətuːd/
elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
ashyadjectiveUS /ˈæʃi/
of a light grey
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
dexteritynounUS /dekˈsterəti/
adroitness in using the hands
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
EaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
divisible by two
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
at any time
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
Frank'snounUS /fræŋks/
possessive form of “frank” — a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
GermansnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmənz/
plural of “german” — a person of German nationality
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
come to pass
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
headingnounUS /ˈhedɪŋ/
a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/
plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
something you have to do
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A SAFE RETURN.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading A SAFE RETURN.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
seaplanenoun
an airplane that can land on or take off from water
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
a special situation
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
velocitynounUS /vəˈlɑːsəti/
distance travelled per unit time
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He could not believe that this was any scheme of Frank's for showing off what the great seaplane was capable of, though on previous occasions he had known such a thing to happen.
which person or people
From this reading Who could blame Billy if he turned ashy pale at that critical second.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The one terrible conviction that flashed through his mind was that something had happened to stop their motors at this great altitude; and that the _Sea Eagle_ was now, with ever increasing velocity, heading downward to earth.
wreckedadjectiveUS /rekt/
destroyed in an accident
From this reading If they managed, through any degree of dexterity to escape death, there must always be more or less chance of the machine being wrecked; and even though that catastrophe were avoided, it was sure to fall into the hands of the Germans.
