used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
(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 The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he sank to the floor he turned partly over.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
avoidingverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
car-tracks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
command with authority
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
dodgedverbUS /dɑːdʒd/
past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
EndingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading As he sank to the floor he turned partly over.
fusingverbUS /ˈfjuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “fuse” — mix together different elements
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
the act of giving
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
Gloria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he sank to the floor he turned partly over.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
ImpassivelyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpæsɪvli/
in an impassive manner
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
invasionnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪʒən/
the act of invading; the act of an army that invades for conquest or plunder
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
and nothing more
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
light-ray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
not any; not one
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As he sank to the floor he turned partly over.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading As he sank to the floor he turned partly over.
with speed
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
robotnounUS /ˈroʊbɑːt/
a mechanism that can move automatically
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading As he sank to the floor he turned partly over.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
ShermannounUS /ˈʃɜːrmən/
United States general who was commander of all Union troops in the West; he captured Atlanta and led a destructive march to the sea that cut the Confederacy in two (1820-1891)
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading "It's a shame" began Gloria, but "Shoot!" insisted Sherman and the light-ray struck him in the back of the neck fusing head and neck to a single mass.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As he sank to the floor he turned partly over.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading The man on duty had no weapon, but paid them no attention, being occupied in watching a car just sliding in to the station.
at the time that
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
which person or people
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Sherman and Gloria dodged around one of them, avoiding the direct line of sight of the robot who worked at it and walked rapidly toward the door giving on the car-tracks.
workersnounUS /ˈwɜːrkərz/
plural of “worker” — a person who works at a specific occupation
From this reading The Ending of It All Impassively, oblivious of the invasion about them, the workers kept on at their machines like ants when their nest is broken open.
