used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
aeroplanenoun
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What shall we do?” cried Andy.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
BALLOONSnounUS /bəˈluːnz/
plural of “balloon” — large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “What shall we do?” cried Andy.
DIRIGIBLEnoun
a steerable self-propelled aircraft
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What shall we do?” cried Andy.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
endeavoredverbUS /ɪnˈdevərd/
past form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
jammedadjectiveUS /dʒæmd/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
keelnounUS /kiːl/
a projection or ridge that suggests a keel
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
for more time
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
momentumnounUS /moʊˈmentəm/
an impelling force or strength
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
not any; not one
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
not one, and not any
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
and nothing more
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
propellersnounUS /prəˈpelərz/
plural of “propeller” — a mechanical device that rotates to push against air or water
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
renderverbUS /ˈrendər/
cause to become
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
revolvedadjectiveUS /riˈvɑːlvd/
turned in a circle around an axis
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
done under pressure
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “What shall we do?” cried Andy.
shovingverbUS /ˈʃʌvɪŋ/
-ing form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
solidlyadverbUS /ˈsɑːlədli/
as an undiversified whole
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
trembleverbUS /ˈtrembəl/
move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
hard to endure
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
urgingnounUS /ˈɜːrdʒɪŋ/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “What shall we do?” cried Andy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They rushed about, pushing and shoving, endeavored to reach the stairs, which were so choked and jammed as to render passage down them impossible.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What shall we do?” cried Andy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS The platform, which was none too solidly built, began to shake and tremble from the efforts of those on it trying to find some means of escape.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It had resumed a level keel, but the wind and its momentum were urging it forward, since the man in charge had stopped his motor and the propellers no longer revolved.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The aeroplane was now within ten feet of the platform, and was only a few feet above it.
