used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
abrasiveadjectiveUS /əˈbreɪsɪv/
causing abrasion
From this reading The sound was gritty, abrasive.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
blackeradjectiveUS /ˈblækər/
comparative of “black” — being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
bombnounUS /bɑːm/
an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
Callistonian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
ClannounUS /klæn/
group of people related by blood or marriage
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
cloudlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
crazedadjectiveUS /kreɪzd/
driven insane
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
Damokles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
dictatornounUS /dɪkˈteɪtər/
a speaker who dictates to a secretary or a recording machine
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
remove the dust from
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
grittyadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪti/
composed of or covered with particles resembling meal in texture or consistency
From this reading The sound was gritty, abrasive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
Holofernesnoun
(Apocrypha) the Assyrian general who was decapitated by the biblical heroine Judith
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
invasionnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪʒən/
the act of invading; the act of an army that invades for conquest or plunder
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
roused to anger
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
monsternounUS /ˈmɑːnstər/
an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
NeptunenounUS /ˈneptuːn/
(Roman mythology) god of the sea; counterpart of Greek Poseidon
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
rainedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
rootnounUS /ruːt/
(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sound was gritty, abrasive.
Spaceport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
Timmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
Tsom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading It hadn't rained for weeks, and the sky, clear of clouds, hovered blacker than Holofernes' soul.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading There was little Timmy Gordon and Johnny Damokles could do--for they were prisoners of the Tsom, working on the monster bomb that was to signal the invasion.
worldsnounUS /wɜːrldz/
plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The mad dreams of a crazed dictator had reached from the past and taken root in the dread Tsom Clan on Neptune, threatening the peaceful existence of a dozen worlds.
XnounUS /eks/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading A cloudlet of dust whirled across Spaceport X and rose in the thin Callistonian air to beat against the window.
