used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
beaconnounUS /ˈbiːkən/
a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
channelsnounUS /ˈtʃænəlz/
official routes of communication
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
communicationsnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃənz/
the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.)
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
conduciveadjectiveUS /kənˈduːsɪv/
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
From this reading The set-up was wholly conducive to work.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
dronenounUS /droʊn/
stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (especially honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
environmentnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
the totality of surrounding conditions
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
equipmentnounUS /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/
an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
expatriateverbUS /ekˈspeɪtrieɪt/
expel from a country
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
Hansen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/
English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
hullnounUS /hʌl/
dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
JuniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
necessitiesnounUS /nəˈsesɪtiz/
plural of “necessity” — the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
a brief written record
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
notifyingverbUS /ˈnoʊtəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “notify” — inform (somebody) of something
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
having official authority or sanction
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
once-each-year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
and nothing more
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
ReednounUS /riːd/
tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
riddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
set-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The set-up was wholly conducive to work.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
solvingnounUS /ˈsɑːlvɪŋ/
finding a solution to a problem
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
spacecraftnounUS /ˈspeɪskræft/
a craft capable of traveling in outer space; technically, a satellite around the sun
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
Spacemannoun
a person trained to travel in a spacecraft
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
standardadjectiveUS /ˈstændərd/
conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
subelectromagnetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
superiorsnounUS /suːˈpɪriərz/
plural of “superior” — one of greater rank or station or quality
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
terminateverbUS /ˈtɜːrməneɪt/
bring to an end or halt
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
tuckingverbUS /ˈtʌkɪŋ/
-ing form of “tuck” — fit snugly into
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
unmannedadjectiveUS /ənˈmænd/
lacking a crew
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The set-up was wholly conducive to work.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was time and there was equipment; his orders were to remain there until he had studied his way through the problem.
at the time that
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The set-up was wholly conducive to work.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The set-up was wholly conducive to work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The drone was standard spacecraft size, an unmanned hull laden with the necessities of life that would support him for a year.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading With nothing else to do, Junior Spaceman Howard Reed was deep in his investigation ... when the drone spacecraft came down along the subelectromagnetic beacon and made its landing a dozen yards away.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He could terminate this tour of duty only by solving the riddle of Hansen's Folly, and then notifying his superiors on the official communications channels--or by tucking a note in the once-each-year supply drone that came laden with enough of Earth's environment to keep the young expatriate alive for another year.
