used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
anticipationnounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/
an expectation
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
comprehendedadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhendɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
DUMMYnounUS /ˈdʌmi/
a person who does not talk
From this reading THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DUMMY.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
engine-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DUMMY.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
only a very short time before
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
manifestedverbUS /ˈmænəfestəd/
past form of “manifest” — provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DUMMY.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
steam-engine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
confined on all sides
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DUMMY.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though I had never seen a dummy before this one, I comprehended the machinery at a glance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
Toppletonians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading THE FIRST TRIP OF THE DUMMY.
tumultuousadjectiveUS /ˌtuːˈmʌltʃuːəs/
characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was in my element--in charge of a steam-engine.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Such an excited crowd as that which surrounded me I had never seen, and I was obliged to close the door of the engine-room to keep them out.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
yellsnounUS /jelz/
plural of “yell” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading I hardly heard the tumultuous yells of the Toppletonians as they manifested their joy, so absorbed was I in the study of the machine, and in the anticipation of what wonderful things it would do.
