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Acid Bath
Acid Bath

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Acid Bath
Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.
But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.
It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.
So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.
He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Acid Bath

Chapter I

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.
Line 2
But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.
Line 3
It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.
Line 4
So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.
Line 5
He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.”

All words in this reading · 79

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

asteroid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

attention

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

baffle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

blue

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

bolting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

concentration

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.

developments

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

devised

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

didn't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

drifted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

engine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

expected

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

few

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

going

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

hundred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

igloo

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

invading

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

job

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

Jon

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

Karyl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

land

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

liquid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

Lone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

much

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

nerve-fraught

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

new

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

odd

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

other

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

parts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

paying

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

peculiar

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

plastic

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

plate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

rocket

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

rockets

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

see

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

singular

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

space

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

starways

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

stationary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

Steel-Blues

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

tedious

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.

test

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

throttled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

too

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a tedious job and took all his concentration.

twenty-one-day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

wasn't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

Watcher

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid.

weird

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues._ Jon Karyl was bolting in a new baffle plate on the stationary rocket engine.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading So he wasn't paying too much attention to what was going on in other parts of the little asteroid.

yards

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He didn't see the peculiar blue space ship, its rockets throttled down, as it drifted to land only a few hundred yards away from his plastic igloo.