used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
addressingverbUS /əˈdresɪŋ/
-ing form of “address” — speak to
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
boardedverbUS /ˈbɔːrdəd/
past form of “board” — get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
terminate
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
Clayton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
crack-proof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
divisible by two
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
exileverbUS /ˈeɡzaɪl/
expel from a country
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
hairyadjectiveUS /ˈheri/
having or covered with hair
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/
a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
the force of workers available
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
and nothing more
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
express the need or desire for
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
transport commercially
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
smashverbUS /smæʃ/
hit hard
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
a shaky motion
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Break out of a crack-proof exile camp—get onto a ship that couldn’t be boarded—smash through an impenetrable wall of steel.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _To escape from Mars, all Clayton had to do was the impossible.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps he could do all these things, but he discovered that Mars did evil things to men; that he wasn’t even Clayton any more.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading He was addressing his request to a thin woman sitting behind a desk that seemed much too big for her.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He was only—_ “I WANT you to put me in prison!” the big, hairy man said in a trembling voice.
