used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
aëroplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
buffetedadjectiveUS /bəˈfeɪd/
pounded or hit repeatedly by storms or adversities
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
comparedverbUS /kəmˈperd/
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
characterized by great determination
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
the act of discovering something
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
ensuedverbUS /ɪnˈsuːd/
past form of “ensue” — issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
fliernounUS /ˈflaɪər/
someone who travels by air
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
Grande
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Le Grande was plainly nervous.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading M. Le Grande was plainly nervous.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading M. Le Grande was plainly nervous.
masterynounUS /ˈmæstəri/
great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
easily agitated
From this reading M. Le Grande was plainly nervous.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
and nothing more
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading M. Le Grande was plainly nervous.
playfuladjectiveUS /ˈpleɪfəl/
full of fun and high spirits
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
with speed
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
seaplanenoun
an airplane that can land on or take off from water
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
squallsnounUS /skwɔːlz/
plural of “squall” — sudden violent winds; often accompanied by precipitation
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading M. Le Grande was plainly nervous.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It buffeted the big seaplane about as though determined to wind up its successful career then and there; and only for the complete mastery which Frank showed over the flier, some terrible accident must surely have ensued.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It quickly became apparent that the squalls they had previously met were playful little things compared with this one.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He realized that in this sort of a wild storm an ordinary aëroplane would not have a ghost of a show.
