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Chapter III
He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done. It was not unreasonable. Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand. If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast. If the water-table were low, water couldn't flow fast enough.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table were low, water couldn't flow fast enough.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table were low, water couldn't flow fast enough.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table were low, water couldn't flow fast enough.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not unreasonable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table were low, water couldn't flow fast enough.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not unreasonable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not unreasonable.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not unreasonable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tapping the ionosphere for power was something like pumping water out of a pipe-well in sand.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the water-table was high, there was pressure to force the water to the pipe, and one could pump fast.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If the water-table were low, water couldn't flow fast enough.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He settled down at Herndon's desk to work out the thing to be done.
