used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
ANDROMEDAnounUS /ænˈdrɑːmədə/
broad-leaved evergreen Asiatic shrub with glossy leaves and drooping clusters of white flowers
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
assertionnounUS /əˈsɜːrʃən/
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
lacking funds
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
chaffverbUS /tʃæf/
be silly or tease one another
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
commercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/
connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
coughedverbUS /kɔːft/
past form of “cough” — exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
deprecatingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
immediately past
From this reading THE LAST VOYAGE OF S.S.
Loringhoven's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LAST VOYAGE OF S.S.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading THE LAST VOYAGE OF S.S.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
term of address for a man
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAST VOYAGE OF S.S.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
tickingnounUS /ˈtɪkɪŋ/
a metallic tapping sound
From this reading Only the ticking of a clock over the oak mantelpiece broke the stillness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "ANDROMEDA" FOR nearly half a minute silence followed von Loringhoven's dramatic assertion.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading THE LAST VOYAGE OF S.S.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
which person or people
From this reading Then the commercial who had been reading the newspaper coughed deprecatingly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "We are too tough old birds to be caught with chaff, sir," he remarked.
