used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
ACEnounUS /eɪs/
the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
aerialnounUS /ˈeriəl/
a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
air-liner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
(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 Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
AzoresnounUS /əˈzɔːrz/
islands in the Atlantic Ocean belonging to Portugal
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
binocularsnounUS /bəˈnɑːkjələrz/
(plural) an optical instrument designed for simultaneous use by both eyes
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
Board'snounUS /bɔːrdz/
possessive form of “board” — a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
Bohannan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
cloud-banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
power to direct or determine
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
EaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
falconnounUS /ˈfælkən/
diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
assemble or get together
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
immediately past
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
LECLAIR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
not any; not one
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
on-rushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
planesnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plane” — an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
quarrynounUS /ˈkwɔːri/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
cut with a saw
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
speedster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
squadronnounUS /ˈskwɑːdrən/
a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
not in physical motion
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
possessing sweep
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
moving very fast
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
SwoopingverbUS /ˈswuːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
tenuousadjectiveUS /ˈtenjəwəs/
having thin consistency
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In a few minutes it had come off the port bows of the giant air-liner, no more than half a mile distant.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
push forcefully
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading The binoculars of the Master and Bohannan drew the machine almost to fingers' touch.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading LECLAIR, ACE OF FRANCE Swooping, rising, falling like a falcon in swift search of quarry, the last plane of the Azores squadron swept in toward the on-rushing Eagle of the Sky.
Undismayedadjective
unshaken in purpose
From this reading Undismayed by the swift, inexplicable fall of all its companions, it still thrust on for the attack.
wasplike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
watchersnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃərz/
plural of “watcher” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading Now the watchers saw it, slipping through some tenuous higher cloud-banks that had begun to gather, a lean, swift, wasplike speedster: one of the Air Control Board's--the A.C.B.'s--most rapid aerial police planes.
