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Brain Twister
Brain Twister

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Brain Twister
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.
Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.
"Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.
Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.
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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.

Brain Twister

Chapter I

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.
Line 2
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.
Line 3
Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.
Line 4
"Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.
Line 5
Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.”

All words in this reading · 60

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

1962

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

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

any

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

book

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

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

coined

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From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

convention

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From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

copyright

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

corrected

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From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

derived

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

errors

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From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

etext

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From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

evidence

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From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

Extensive

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

Garrett

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

Janifer

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

joint

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

Laurence

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

M

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

Mark

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

meeting

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

middle

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

Minor

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

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

names

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

note

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

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

original

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

pen-name

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

Philip

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

Phillips

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

produced

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

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

publication

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

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

Randall

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

renewed

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

research

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

science-fiction

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

soon

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

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

spelling

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

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

story

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

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their joint pen-name, derived from their middle names (Philip and Mark), was coined soon after their original meeting, at a science-fiction convention.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

two

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.

typographical

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

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

uncover

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This etext was produced from the 1962 book publication of the story.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.

writers

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

From this reading "Mark Phillips" is, or are, two writers: Randall Garrett and Laurence M. Janifer.