used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
accidentsnounUS /ˈæksədənts/
plural of “accident” — an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
aeroplanenoun
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
breakdownnounUS /ˈbreɪkdaʊn/
the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
CometnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
commissionnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
cylindernounUS /ˈsɪləndər/
a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This was what they did in the present emergency.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading This was what they did in the present emergency.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
divisible by two
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
floatverbUS /floʊt/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
heroesnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
not in physical motion
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
information about recent and important events
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
not any; not one
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This was what they did in the present emergency.
purposelyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrpəsli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
renderverbUS /ˈrendər/
cause to become
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
cut with a saw
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
move hurridly
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
in or at that place or location
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading Jerry saw that it was useless, with one cylinder out of commission, to try to get any speed out of the engine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STARTLING NEWS There was no alarm among those aboard the _Comet_.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Our heroes had, by this time, become used to accidents happening even higher in the air than they now were.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This was what they did in the present emergency.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In fact their machine was constructed purposely to render them safe in case of a breakdown, for they could instantly change from an aeroplane to a balloon, and thus float even with the motor motionless.
