used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
airplanesnounUS /ˈerpleɪnz/
plural of “airplane” — an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading "They are out pretty early in the morning," said Alfred.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "They are out pretty early in the morning," said Alfred.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
maintain with or as if with a bet
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
BochesnounUS /ˈbɑːtʃɪz/
plural of “boche” — offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading "They are out pretty early in the morning," said Alfred.
divisible by two
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "They are out pretty early in the morning," said Alfred.
set afire or burning
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
Morane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
used to form the superlative
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/
plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
observationsnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “observation” — the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "They are out pretty early in the morning," said Alfred.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
preparatoryadjectiveUS /prɪˈperətɔːri/
preceding and preparing for something
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "They are out pretty early in the morning," said Alfred.
with little or no delay
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
carry out
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll bet that's a Morane," said Ralph, as they rolled around over the blankets, preparatory to getting up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE CURTAIN OF FIRE Before the morning sun had lighted up the scene, they could hear the buzzing of airplanes overhead.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading "Got to be out promptly before any of the Boches are able to come over and take observations," said the sergeant, in the adjoining van.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading That was a sound so familiar to them that they could, at times, distinguish even the motors that were used on most of them.
