from one side of something to the other
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE BIG SCENE Nothing could be done!
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE BIG SCENE Nothing could be done!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE BIG SCENE Nothing could be done!
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading THE BIG SCENE Nothing could be done!
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
explodedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsploʊdəd/
showing the parts of something separated but in positions that show their correct relation to one another
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
Horror-strickenadjective
stricken with horror
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
interveningadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
occurring or falling between events or points in time
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
lanyardnounUS /ˈlænjərd/
a cord with an attached hook that is used to fire certain types of cannon
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
not any; not one
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading THE BIG SCENE Nothing could be done!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
projectilenounUS /prəˈdʒektəl/
a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading THE BIG SCENE Nothing could be done!
a thing, without saying which
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
surviveverbUS /sərˈvaɪv/
continue to live and avoid dying
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BIG SCENE Nothing could be done!
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Horror-stricken, those near the big gun looked across the intervening space.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading No power on earth could stop that projectile now until it had spent itself, or until it had struck something and exploded.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
which person or people
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The man who had pulled the lanyard sank to the ground, covering his face with his hands.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading How many would survive what was to follow?
