used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “How far is it?” asked Thorndyke.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading The balloon gradually sank.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
circumferencenounUS /ˌsɜːrˈkʌmfrəns/
the size of something as given by the distance around it
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
without doubt or question
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “How far is it?” asked Thorndyke.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The balloon gradually sank.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How far is it?” asked Thorndyke.
ten 10s
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How far is it?” asked Thorndyke.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
laconicallyadverb
in a dry laconic manner
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading The balloon gradually sank.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
Thorndyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How far is it?” asked Thorndyke.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “About two miles,” answered the American laconically, “it is a chance for us, but a slim one.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They could now clearly see that it was a small island, not more than a mile in circumference.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading For twenty minutes the car glided along not more than two hundred feet above the waves.
