used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A week rolled slowly by.
aeroplanes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
BradburynounUS /ˈbrædberi/
United States writer of science fiction (born 1920)
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A week rolled slowly by.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
COBWEBnounUS /ˈkɑːbweb/
a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB."
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
Lieut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
meritsnounUS /ˈmerəts/
plural of “merit” — any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
Mortlake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
as might be expected
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
noncommittaladjectiveUS /ˈnɑːnkəˈmɪtəl/
refusing to bind oneself to a particular course of action or view or the like
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB."
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
plantverbUS /plænt/
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
Prescotts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading A week rolled slowly by.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB."
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A week rolled slowly by.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FLIGHT OF THE "SILVER COBWEB."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
typesnounUS /taɪps/
plural of “type” — a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the officer was naturally noncommittal concerning his opinion of the comparative merits of the two types of aeroplanes.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week rolled slowly by.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
which person or people
From this reading A week of suspense, during which they had one or two calls from Lieut. Bradbury, who had been busy down at the Mortlake plant.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Equally naturally, of course, the young Prescotts had not questioned him concerning them.
