used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "No," answered the observer, "that's nothing but a thunderstorm.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
divisible by two
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
fearfullyadverb
in fear
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
GalvestonnounUS /ˈɡælvəstən/
a town in southeast Texas on Galveston Island
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
hurricanenounUS /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
kite-flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
ladsnounUS /lædz/
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
not any; not one
From this reading "No," answered the observer, "that's nothing but a thunderstorm.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "No," answered the observer, "that's nothing but a thunderstorm.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No," answered the observer, "that's nothing but a thunderstorm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
in or at that place or location
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/
feeling intense pleasurable excitement
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
thunderstormnounUS /ˈθʌndərstɔːrm/
a storm resulting from strong rising air currents; heavy rain or hail along with thunder and lightning
From this reading "No," answered the observer, "that's nothing but a thunderstorm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
at the time that
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The lads were all the more thrilled by reason of the fact that the sky was becoming dark and ominous, and that, even while the stranger spoke, the clouds grew more threatening.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boys had been brought close to danger and they crowded around the stranger with questions concerning the hurricane.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading STRUCK BY LIGHTNING There was but little further interest in kite-flying that afternoon, when the young observer ended his story of the Galveston hurricane.
youngestadjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡəst/
superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "There might be a hurricane coming now," said the youngest of the group, looking fearfully at the sky.
