used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
acridadjectiveUS /ˈæk.rɪd/
Having an unpleasantly bitter or pungent taste or smell.
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The roar of motors shook the air.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
aviationnounUS /ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/
the aggregation of a country's military aircraft
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
aviatorsnounUS /ˈeɪvieɪtərz/
plural of “aviator” — someone who operates an aircraft
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
belchingnounUS /ˈbeltʃɪŋ/
the forceful expulsion of something from inside
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
EnginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
fumesnounUS /fjuːmz/
gases ejected from an engine as waste products
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
impregnatedverbUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡneɪtəd/
past form of “impregnate” — fill, as with a certain quality
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
judge'snounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/
possessive form of “judge” — a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/
plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading The roar of motors shook the air.
NICKverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME.
oilyadjectiveUS /ˈɔɪli/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
pitchnounUS /pɪtʃ/
the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading The roar of motors shook the air.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading The roar of motors shook the air.
smellingnounUS /ˈsmelɪŋ/
the act of perceiving the odor of something
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
be standing; be upright
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
topmostadjective
at or nearest to the top
From this reading Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
wingedadjectiveUS /wɪŋd/
having wings or as if having wings of a specified kind
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with oily, smelling fumes.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's stand.
