used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
additionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/
a component that is added to something to improve it
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
airshipnounUS /ˈerʃɪp/
a steerable self-propelled aircraft
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a feeling of craving something
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
behavedverbUS /bɪˈheɪvd/
past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading “I’ll speed her a bit, now.”
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
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 The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
failingnounUS /ˈfeɪlɪŋ/
a flaw or weak point
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
gaugesnounUS /ˈɡeɪdʒəz/
plural of “gauge” — a measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity such as the thickness of wire or the amount of rain etc.
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I’ll speed her a bit, now.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll speed her a bit, now.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
NixonnounUS /ˈnɪksən/
vice president under Eisenhower and 37th President of the United States; resigned after the Watergate scandal in 1974 (1913-1994)
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
Noddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “I’ll speed her a bit, now.”
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading The _Comet_ had never behaved better, and was sailing along like a bird.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
She's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
slangverbUS /slæŋ/
use slang or vulgar language
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
move hurridly
From this reading “I’ll speed her a bit, now.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
treatmentnounUS /ˈtriːtmənt/
care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury)
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
a source of difficulty
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “She’s running as well as we could expect, and a little better, considering the treatment she had at the hands of Noddy Nixon,” responded Jerry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A TOWN IN TROUBLE For a few minutes after rising in the airship, the boys were busy adjusting machinery and looking at various gauges to see that everything was running smoothly.
which person or people
From this reading “Some class to this, eh?” inquired Bob, who, in addition to his appetite, had another failing--that of using slang occasionally.
