used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The plane under Smithy's hands vaulted over them and roared on above the desert.
at or in the front
From this reading Rugged pinnacles of rock were ahead.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
ashnounUS /æʃ/
the residue that remains when something is burned
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
cindersnounUS /ˈsɪndərz/
plural of “cinder” — a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
EmergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
flecksnounUS /fleks/
plural of “fleck” — a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The plane under Smithy's hands vaulted over them and roared on above the desert.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
in motion
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The plane under Smithy's hands vaulted over them and roared on above the desert.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
pinnacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rugged pinnacles of rock were ahead.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
red-yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
roaredverbUS /rɔːrd/
past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading The plane under Smithy's hands vaulted over them and roared on above the desert.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Rugged pinnacles of rock were ahead.
RuggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading Rugged pinnacles of rock were ahead.
Smithynoun
a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
Smithy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plane under Smithy's hands vaulted over them and roared on above the desert.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The plane under Smithy's hands vaulted over them and roared on above the desert.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
thunderingadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərɪŋ/
sounding like thunder
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nor did Smithy, throwing the thundering plane close over that place, know how near he had passed to sudden, invisible death.
twinkledverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəld/
past form of “twinkle” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
vaultedadjectiveUS /ˈvɔːltɪd/
having a hemispherical vault or dome
From this reading The plane under Smithy's hands vaulted over them and roared on above the desert.
volcanonounUS /vɑːlˈkeɪnoʊ/
a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Emergency Order_ The throat of the old volcano was a pit of blackness in the midst of gray ash and the red-yellow of cinders.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beside it were other flecks of color: red, moving bodies; metal, that twinkled brightly under the desert sun--and in an instant they were gone.
