used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
AndrewsnounUS /ˈændruːz/
United States naturalist who contributed to paleontology and geology (1884-1960)
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
apparatusnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəs/
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
balloon-supported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
castawaysnounUS /ˈkæstəweɪz/
plural of “castaway” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
clampedverbUS /klæmpt/
past form of “clamp” — fasten or fix with a clamp
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
ferventadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrvənt/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
the act of departing
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
destroyed or killed
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
inventorsnounUS /ˌɪnˈventərz/
plural of “inventor” — someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
a small worthless amount
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
and nothing more
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
locationnounUS /loʊˈkeɪʃən/
a point or extent in space
From this reading Jack had just flashed out the location of the island, and with it a fervent appeal for help.
engage in
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
compacted by ironing
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
receiversnounUS /rəˈsiːvərz/
plural of “receiver” — set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was the middle of the afternoon, the storm had blown itself out and the sun was shining cheerfully.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
male cat
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
which person or people
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
wirelessnounUS /ˈwaɪrlɪs/
medium for communication
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading From the balloon-supported wires above him, the message had gone shooting forth into space.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What are you going to do now?” asked Tom of Jack, who, with the receivers clamped over his ears, was seated at the wireless apparatus.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading About the young inventors pressed the castaways,—for they had been awakened,—Captain Andrews, so that he might make an observation and get their exact position, and the rest to be on hand if need arose.
