used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It grew rapidly dark, although it was only mid-afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
borderingverbUS /ˈbɔːrdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “border” — extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
crackledverbUS /ˈkrækəld/
past form of “crackle” — make a crackling sound
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It grew rapidly dark, although it was only mid-afternoon.
wanted intensely
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading It grew rapidly dark, although it was only mid-afternoon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It grew rapidly dark, although it was only mid-afternoon.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
mid-afternoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grew rapidly dark, although it was only mid-afternoon.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
mirenounUS /maɪr/
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
Neale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
O'Neil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
and nothing more
From this reading It grew rapidly dark, although it was only mid-afternoon.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
OverheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
pokeverbUS /poʊk/
poke or thrust abruptly
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
with speed
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
with speed
From this reading It grew rapidly dark, although it was only mid-afternoon.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
ricochetted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
saplingsnounUS /ˈsæplɪŋz/
plural of “sapling” — young tree
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading Overhead the lightning crackled and the thunder ricochetted from the distant hills.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
torrentially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a minute or two the rain was falling torrentially—beating upon the automobile cover and quickly turning the sandy road to an actual mire.
look attentively
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The trees bordering the road swayed in the wind and the weight of the falling rain bent them like saplings.
wind-shield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neale O’Neil could not drive the automobile rapidly, much as they desired to reach a place of refuge from the storm, for the wind-shield was blurred so that he had to poke his head out at the side every now and then to watch the road.
