used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading And he saw in the light of the luminiferous air the girl's wide, staring eyes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The hiss and threshing of many wings came unceasingly.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
conenounUS /koʊn/
any cone-shaped artifact
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
destinationnounUS /ˌdestəˈneɪʃən/
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
one or the other of two
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
enmeshedadjectiveUS /enˈmeʃt/
caught as if in a mesh
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
envisageverbUS /enˈvɪzɪdʒ/
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
opinion or judgment
From this reading And he saw in the light of the luminiferous air the girl's wide, staring eyes.
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
flailingverbUS /ˈfleɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “flail” — give a thrashing to; beat hard
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading And he saw in the light of the luminiferous air the girl's wide, staring eyes.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading The hiss and threshing of many wings came unceasingly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
luminiferous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he saw in the light of the luminiferous air the girl's wide, staring eyes.
luminousadjectiveUS /ˈluːmənəs/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The hiss and threshing of many wings came unceasingly.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
on one occasion
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
phosphorescentadjective
emitting light without appreciable heat as by slow oxidation of phosphorous
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
pyrotechnicaladjective
of or relating to the craft of making fireworks
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
cut with a saw
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
transport commercially
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading And he saw in the light of the luminiferous air the girl's wide, staring eyes.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Once he swung close to another body clad like his own and, like him, enmeshed in a net.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
threshingnoun
the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw
From this reading The hiss and threshing of many wings came unceasingly.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
unceasinglyadverb
with unflagging resolve
From this reading The hiss and threshing of many wings came unceasingly.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
vortices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading His body turned in space at times, and he saw the spreading cone of luminous gas behind them like the wake of a great ship in a phosphorescent sea.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading And he saw in the light of the luminiferous air the girl's wide, staring eyes.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading _The Fires_ Great vortices of whirling light rolled out to either side in an endless pyrotechnical display to show the power of those flailing wings that were bearing Chet and his companion through the dark void--bearing them to some destination Chet could not envisage.
