used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
Birrel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Did you think I _wanted_ to overtake you out there on the road?
Earthmannoun
an inhabitant of the earth
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading "You were easy, easy," Vannevan was saying.
eighthadjectiveUS /eɪtθ/
coming next after the seventh and just before the ninth in position
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Did you think I _wanted_ to overtake you out there on the road?
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
JerseynounUS /ˈdʒɜːrzi/
a Mid-Atlantic state on the Atlantic; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
madlyadverbUS /ˈmædli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
nineteen-fifty-seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
and nothing more
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Did you think I _wanted_ to overtake you out there on the road?
overtakeverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪk/
catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading "Did you think I _wanted_ to overtake you out there on the road?
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading "Did you think I _wanted_ to overtake you out there on the road?
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading "You were easy, easy," Vannevan was saying.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
a special situation
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Did you think I _wanted_ to overtake you out there on the road?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed a madly impossible thing, to Birrel.
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
Vannevan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You were easy, easy," Vannevan was saying.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "Did you think I _wanted_ to overtake you out there on the road?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were six people in the living-room of the old New Jersey farmhouse, and only one of them was an Earthman.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The year was nineteen-fifty-seven and it was twenty-five minutes to midnight on the eighth of July, and this couldn't be happening but it was.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You were easy, easy," Vannevan was saying.
