used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
AmbassadornounUS /æmˈbæsədər/
a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a completely normal and even handsome human being.
antennaenounUS /ænˈteni/
plural of “antenna” — an electrical device that sends or receives radio or television signals
From this reading But the Ambassador didn't even have antennae, gills, or green hair.
any thing at all
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was a completely normal and even handsome human being.
brontosaurusnounUS /ˌbrɔːntəˈsɔːrəs/
huge quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur common in North America in the late Jurassic
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
caterpillarnounUS /ˈkætəpɪlər/
a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He was a completely normal and even handsome human being.
depressionnounUS /dɪˈpreʃən/
a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Ambassador didn't even have antennae, gills, or green hair.
Earthmannoun
an inhabitant of the earth
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
educatedadjectiveUS /ˈedʒəkeɪtɪd/
possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
divisible by two
From this reading But the Ambassador didn't even have antennae, gills, or green hair.
at any time
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
gillsnounUS /ɡɪlz/
plural of “gill” — a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
From this reading But the Ambassador didn't even have antennae, gills, or green hair.
hold firmly
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading But the Ambassador didn't even have antennae, gills, or green hair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading But the Ambassador didn't even have antennae, gills, or green hair.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading He was a completely normal and even handsome human being.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But the Ambassador didn't even have antennae, gills, or green hair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a completely normal and even handsome human being.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading He was a completely normal and even handsome human being.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
inventionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃənz/
plural of “invention” — the creation of something in the mind
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
Jerry'snounUS /ˈdʒeriz/
possessive form of “jerry” — offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
not any; not one
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading He was a completely normal and even handsome human being.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
OuteradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
by chance
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
cut with a saw
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
scholarlyadjectiveUS /ˈskɑːlərli/
characteristic of scholars or scholarship
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
squidnounUS /skwɪd/
(Italian cuisine) squid prepared as food
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
TechnologicaladjectiveUS /ˌteknəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
based in scientific and industrial progress
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
telepathicadjectiveUS /ˌteləˈpæθək/
communicating without apparent physical signals
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
ultimateadjectiveUS /ˈʌltəmət/
furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
upheavalsnounUS /əpˈhiːvəlz/
plural of “upheaval” — a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The Ambassador from Outer Space sprang to his feet, taking Jerry's extended hand in a firm, warm grasp.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Technological upheavals caused by inventions of our own are bad enough, but this was the ultimate depression, caused by the ultimate alien invention--which no Earthman ever saw!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jerry had been prepared for almost anything--a scholarly brontosaurus, perhaps, or an educated squid or giant caterpillar with telepathic powers.
