used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an official communication from the Interstellar Exploration Service.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
lacking funds
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading It was an official communication from the Interstellar Exploration Service.
contentmentnounUS /kənˈtentmənt/
happiness with one's situation in life
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
corpsnounUS /kɔːr/
an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
let fall to the ground
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
every person
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
ExplorationnounUS /ˌeksplərˈeɪʃən/
to travel for the purpose of discovery
From this reading It was an official communication from the Interstellar Exploration Service.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was an official communication from the Interstellar Exploration Service.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
InterstellaradjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈstelər/
between or among stars
From this reading It was an official communication from the Interstellar Exploration Service.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
having official authority or sanction
From this reading It was an official communication from the Interstellar Exploration Service.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/
with little or no delay
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
rottingnounUS /ˈrɑːtɪŋ/
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
sealverbUS /siːl/
make tight; secure against leakage
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading It was an official communication from the Interstellar Exploration Service.
Sherri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
transport commercially
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
skeletonsnounUS /ˈskelətənz/
plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
spacemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a mystery Peter and Sherri had to solve.
WaynenounUS /weɪn/
United States film actor who played tough heroes (1907-1979)
From this reading If they could live long enough!_ Peter Wayne took the letter out of the machine, broke the seal, and examined it curiously.
well-equipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading _Why did everybody step off the ship in this strange valley and promptly drop dead?
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading How could a well-equipped corps of tough spacemen become a field of rotting skeletons in this quiet world of peace and contentment?
