used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
airshipnounUS /ˈerʃɪp/
a steerable self-propelled aircraft
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
COALSnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
recognizable; marked
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
excursionists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
start firing a weapon
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
imminentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmənənt/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
large-sized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
in motion
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
not any; not one
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
on one occasion
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
on the contrary
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
reducingnounUS /rəˈduːsɪŋ/
any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
cut with a saw
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
in the near future
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
moving very fast
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
in a swift manner
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
male cat
From this reading COALS OF FIRE Tom Swift saw the craft almost as soon as did his chum.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
a source of difficulty
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
volplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was rather a large-sized motor boat, quite some distance out from shore, and there was no other craft near it at this time.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading For as Tom shut off his motor, to volplane down, thus reducing all noise on his craft, they could dimly hear the shouts and calls for help, coming from the water craft below them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From the quick, first view Tom and Ned had of it, they decided that a party of excursionists were on a pleasure trip.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But that an accident had happened, and that trouble, if not, indeed, danger, was imminent, was at once apparent to the young inventor and the other occupant of the swiftly moving airship.
