used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
anew
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
on the far side of; further than
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
CondemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the hospital.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the hospital.
cruisernounUS /ˈkruːzər/
a car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquarters
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
an opposing military force
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
at any time
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
start firing a weapon
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
flarenounUS /fler/
a shape that spreads outward
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
a young female
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
gratefulnessnoun
warm friendly feelings of gratitude
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the hospital.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the hospital.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the hospital.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the hospital.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
irrationaladjectiveUS /ˌɪˈræʃənəl/
not consistent with or using reason
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
jetsnounUS /dʒets/
plural of “jet” — an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
Langford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
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 For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
the force of workers available
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
a particular point in time
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
used to form the superlative
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
To move from a closed position.
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
refusalnounUS /rəˈfjuːzəl/
the act of refusing
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
resemblancenounUS /rɪˈzembləns/
similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
rocketnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/
any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Of course, Joan couldn't be here; he was to see her at the hospital.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
space-craft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
having a supporting base
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading There was a girl standing alone at the far end of the field, and for a moment Langford thought it might be Joan, irrational as the thought was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
the act of testing something
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading He started across the field, blinking in the glare, his eyes shining with a warm gratefulness to be home again; as he approached the solitary figure, he could see it was not Joan, though there was a resemblance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
at the time that
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading _Condemned without trial for his refusal to open fire on an alien space-craft, Ralph Langford had to be free to investigate the strange menace from beyond the stars!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For if the alien were an enemy, then it would be the most terrible enemy men had ever encountered._ The sky was harsh with the flare of rocket jets when Captain Ralph Langford emerged from his deep space cruiser on the Mars City landing field.
