used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were to learn a better name.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
arbitraryadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrbətreri/
based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
(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 They were to learn a better name.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
blobnounUS /blɑːb/
an indistinct shapeless form
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading One of them was dead.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
apart from; not including
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
flounderedverbUS /ˈflaʊndərd/
past form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading They were to learn a better name.
Marcus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
midwayadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdweɪ/
equally distant from the extremes
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They were to learn a better name.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of them was dead.
OscarnounUS /ˈɔːskər/
an annual award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performance
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
shapelessadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪpləs/
having no definite form or distinct shape
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
sprawledverbUS /sprɔːld/
past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
tentacle-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One of them was dead.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They called this strange tentacle-headed blob that had floundered into the System Oscar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were to learn a better name.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The observation deck of the _President Marcus_, this early in the ship's arbitrary morning, was deserted except for two shapeless figures.
wellsnounUS /welz/
prolific English writer best known for his science-fiction novels; he also wrote on contemporary social problems and wrote popular accounts of history and science (1866-1946)
From this reading The body was sprawled in the curve of the deck about midway between two of the entrance wells.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were to learn a better name.
