Chapter XXVIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

a steerable self-propelled aircraft

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

(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 “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

react verbally

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

communicated in words

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

inflected form of “flop” — fall loosely

From this reading It flopped on one side, and the men were spilled out.

thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

-ing form of “harbor” — maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

only a very short time before

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

a message received and understood

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

the force of workers available

From this reading It flopped on one side, and the men were spilled out.

a form of address for a man

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

past form of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It flopped on one side, and the men were spilled out.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It flopped on one side, and the men were spilled out.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

above your head; in the sky

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading It flopped on one side, and the men were spilled out.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

past form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container

From this reading It flopped on one side, and the men were spilled out.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading They fell in a tree, or they’d have been killed instantly.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

deprived of courage and strength

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

precisely as stated

From this reading TOSSED BY THE STORM Very little information could be obtained from Mr. Rossmore.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It flopped on one side, and the men were spilled out.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He was so “flustered,” as he expressed it, from what had taken place, and so unnerved by the thought that he had been harboring in his barn two desperate bank robbers, that he could hardly answer simple questions.

at the time that

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.

inflected form of “whiz” — make a soft swishing sound

From this reading “All I know,” he said, “is that I was out in the garden when their airship whizzed overhead.