used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
actinicadjective
relating to or exhibiting actinism
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
Bayliss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They _had_ to find him--and Peter Conroy had to keep from being found.
blazedverbUS /bleɪzd/
past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
brought into existence
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
Conroy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
cornfieldnounUS /ˈkɔːrnfiːld/
a field planted with corn
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/
superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading They _had_ to find him--and Peter Conroy had to keep from being found.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
set up or found
From this reading They _had_ to find him--and Peter Conroy had to keep from being found.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They _had_ to find him--and Peter Conroy had to keep from being found.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
not accessible to view
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
irradiatedverbUS /ˌɪˈreɪdieɪtɪd/
past form of “irradiate” — give spiritual insight to; in religion
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading They _had_ to find him--and Peter Conroy had to keep from being found.
KentnounUS /kent/
a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
the force of workers available
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
nearbyadjectiveUS /ˈnɪrˈbaɪ/
close at hand
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
and nothing more
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
ripeningnounUS /ˈraɪpənɪŋ/
coming to full development; becoming mature
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
stalksnounUS /stɔːks/
plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
starshipnounUS /ˈstɑːrʃɪp/
a spacecraft designed to carry a crew into interstellar space (especially in science fiction)
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading And nearby, Conroy could hear the stealthy footsteps of Bayliss Kent and his men, searching desperately for him.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They _had_ to find him--and Peter Conroy had to keep from being found.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They _had_ to find him--and Peter Conroy had to keep from being found.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Peter Conroy had been born in deep space and the starship was the only home he knew.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Around him waved the tall stalks of ripening corn; high overhead, near the distant ceiling of the level, blazed the actinic lights that irradiated the broad field.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading It was a good reason why he must fight for this-- In the deepest level of the mighty _Starship I_, Peter Conroy lay hidden in a cornfield.
