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20,000
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
answer
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From this reading The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
Barbicane
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
cannon
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
colleagues
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
composition
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
construction
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
dear
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
destined
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From this reading The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions.
discussion
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From this reading The following evening the discussion was renewed.
doors
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From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
effect
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From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
engine
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
evening
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From this reading The following evening the discussion was renewed.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
following
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From this reading The following evening the discussion was renewed.
fright
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
further
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
idea
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
launched
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
mass
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
meeting
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From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
mighty
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
out
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From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
people
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
pounds
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From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
preamble
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From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions.
renewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The following evening the discussion was renewed.
resolutions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
sufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The resolutions passed at the last meeting produced a great effect out of doors.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
Timid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
transmit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
triumphantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
velocity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The following evening the discussion was renewed.
weighing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The minutes of the second meeting were destined triumphantly to answer such questions.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Timid people took fright at the idea of a shot weighing 20,000 pounds being launched into space; they asked what cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty mass.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “My dear colleagues,” said Barbicane, without further preamble, “the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its length, its composition, and its weight.