used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
AircraftnounUS /ˈerkræft/
a vehicle that can fly
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
fermentnounUS /fərˈment/
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
set up or found
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
Gwenna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She told him, and went on.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
khaki-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She told him, and went on.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
peremptorilyadverb
in an imperative and commanding manner
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
Ryan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
sentrynounUS /ˈsentri/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
do one's shopping
From this reading She found the big central shop in a ferment of activity.
shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/
plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
stridingverbUS /ˈstraɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading Mr. Ryan, striding out on some hurried errand, nearly knocked her over.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She told him, and went on.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was pacing up and down the bit of dusty road outside the shops; and he stopped Gwenna peremptorily, not knowing that she was one of the staff.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She told him, and went on.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading THIS SIDE OF "THE FRONT" The first of these changes at the Aircraft Works was the sight of the khaki-clad sentry at the entrance.
