used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
bulger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, then, whence came its gravity?
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But, then, whence came its gravity?
comfortablyadverbUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in mental comfort; without stress
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
a young female
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading But, then, whence came its gravity?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But, then, whence came its gravity?
lentnounUS /lent/
a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
maintainverbUS /meɪnˈteɪn/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
in motion
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
not any; not one
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
perplexingadjectiveUS /pərˈpleksɪŋ/
lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
SalvationnounUS /sælˈveɪʃən/
(theology) the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
get by special effort
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading And how did a floating rock of this size maintain an atmosphere of Earth normal?
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the girl had helped Salvation to his feet, had lent him a shoulder in support, and now was moving away.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But, then, whence came its gravity?
in or at that place or location
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
very small
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were perplexing questions, but there was no opportunity now to solve them.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading But, then, whence came its gravity?
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Though he wore no bulger he felt comfortably secure on this tiny fragment of matter.
