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From the Earth to the Moon
From the Earth to the Moon

Chapter XIX · The Telescope of the Rocky Mountains

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Context Illustration Reading 1/7 · 5 lines
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On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.
This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.
At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.
Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.
The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.
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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.

From the Earth to the Moon

Chapter XIX · The Telescope of the Rocky Mountains

Reading 1/7 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.
Line 2
This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.
Line 3
At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.
Line 4
Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.
Line 5
The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

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 “On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.”

Length noun US /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading “The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.”

Remarkable noun US /ˈremarkable/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.”

All words in this reading · 82

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

20th

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

6,000

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

any

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

Cambridge

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

close

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

Club

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

constructed

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

construction

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

credited

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

degree

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

designed

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

diameter

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

dimensions

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

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

essayed

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

exceeding

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

experiment

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

feet

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

four

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

gigantic

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

Gun

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

Herschel

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

high

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

inches

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

instrument

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

instruments

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

lengthnounUS /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

magnificent

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

magnifying

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

moon

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

necessary

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

nine

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

object

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

object-glass

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

Observatory

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

October

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

optical

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

particular

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

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

perfection

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

period

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

possessed

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

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

power

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

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

preceding

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

president

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

produced

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

purpose

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

reached

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

rendering

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

results

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

six

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

some

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

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

subscription

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

sums

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

surface

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

telescopes

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

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

thirty-six

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

From this reading The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

Two

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

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

visible

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.

year

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

From this reading On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument.