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 David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
accurately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
adjusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
adventures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
apart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
apparently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
behave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
contrivance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
cotton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
David
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
deft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
delicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
dipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
duly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
fifth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Similarly, when the first pen is engaged in the second line, the other will be engaged on the fifth.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
fourthnounUS /fourth/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
hexameters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
highly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
holds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
ink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
lashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
lashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
meaningless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
measure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
neatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
nibs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
over-rated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
pains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
pens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
pious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
provided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
reasonably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
respective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
scribbling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
securely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
sheet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
Similarly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Similarly, when the first pen is engaged in the second line, the other will be engaged on the fifth.
simultaneously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
stuck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
tip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The distance, as he took pains to measure accurately, was exactly that between the first and fourth line on a piece of scribbling paper.
transcribe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Similarly, when the first pen is engaged in the second line, the other will be engaged on the fifth.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
writes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this is neatly done—and David with his deft fingers was doing it very neatly indeed—it will be clear that, if both pens are dipped in ink, and one writes certain words along the first line of the paper, the second pen, duly adjusted, will simultaneously be writing the same words along the fourth line.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading David, with the tip of his tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth, was engaged in the delicate, and apparently (until you know the reason) meaningless task of lashing two pens together with a piece of cotton, so that their respective nibs should be fixed at a particular distance apart from each other.
Æneas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus, provided the pens are securely lashed and behave reasonably, a sheet of scribbling paper of the sort that holds twenty lines can be filled with hexameters from any given part of the highly over-rated adventures of the pious Æneas in the time that, without this contrivance, it would take to transcribe ten of those lines.
