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Chapter XXVI
This revelation came like a thunderbolt. Who could have expected such an error in calculation? Barbicane would not believe it. Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact. As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Reading 1/57 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Barbicane would not believe it.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Who could have expected such an error in calculation?”
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading “As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.”
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading “Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Who could have expected such an error in calculation?”
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading “As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Barbicane would not believe it.”
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 This revelation came like a thunderbolt.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barbicane would not believe it.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Barbicane would not believe it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This revelation came like a thunderbolt.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Barbicane would not believe it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This revelation came like a thunderbolt.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Barbicane would not believe it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This revelation came like a thunderbolt.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This revelation came like a thunderbolt.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This revelation came like a thunderbolt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nicholl revised his figures: they were exact.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
which person or people
From this reading Who could have expected such an error in calculation?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Barbicane would not believe it.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to the formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its truth; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of seventeen thousand yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach the neutral point.
