used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Martians were human--as that term was used on Earth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
for the reason that
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
causingnounUS /ˈkɑːzɪŋ/
the act of causing something to happen
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
clawlikeadjective
resembling a claw
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
gotten under control
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
approval
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Martians were human--as that term was used on Earth.
Earthmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
Earthwomen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
flawsnounUS /flɔːz/
plural of “flaw” — an imperfection in an object or machine
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
heritagenounUS /ˈherətədʒ/
practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Martians were human--as that term was used on Earth.
humanoidnounUS /ˈhjuːmənɔɪd/
an automaton that resembles a human being
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
junglenounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
attach a tag or label to
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
MartiannounUS /ˈmɑːrʃən/
imaginary people who live on the planet Mars
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
MartiansnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃənz/
plural of “martian” — imaginary people who live on the planet Mars
From this reading Martians were human--as that term was used on Earth.
and nothing more
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
networknounUS /ˈnetwɜːrk/
an interconnected system of things or people
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
not any; not one
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
and nothing more
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
win a victory over
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
not often
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading Martians were human--as that term was used on Earth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading To think of them as merely _humanoid_ did Earthmen and Earthwomen no credit, for it was a reflection on their intelligence.
very small
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Martians were human--as that term was used on Earth.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Martians were human--as that term was used on Earth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why did it so seldom occur to Earthmen that their own bodies were primitive to an equal degree and that the heritage of the jungle had left its mark on them?
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Why were they so slow to realize that only the great beauty of their women could overcome such flaws?
writheverbUS /rɪθ/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading They were clawlike, but only because the nails contained a network of tiny blood vessels and could not be cut without causing a Martian to writhe in pain.
