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

Chapter XXXII · Lunar Landscapes

Cover illustration for From the Earth to the Moon
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.
It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.
Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.
At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.
Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

From the Earth to the Moon

Chapter XXXII · Lunar Landscapes

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.
Line 2
It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.
Line 3
Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.
Line 4
At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.
Line 5
Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.”

Inexplicable noun US /inexplicable/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.”

Thirteenth adjective US /ˈθɜːr.tiːnθ/

Constituting number thirteen in a sequence.

From this reading “At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

any

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

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

attraction

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

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

Barbicane

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

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

bear

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

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

cause

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

From this reading Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

comparatively

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

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

considerable

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

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

disc

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

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

distance

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

effective

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

enable

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

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

escaped

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

From this reading Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

five

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

glasses

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

half-past

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

hundred

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

impossible

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

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

inexplicablenounUS /inexplicable/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

lunar

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

miles

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

moderate

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

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

moon

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

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

motive

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

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

parallel

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

phenomenon

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

From this reading Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

President

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

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

projectile

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

reduced

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

speed

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

From this reading Its motive speed, comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Barbicane.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.

thirteenthadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːr.tiːnθ/

Constituting number thirteen in a sequence.

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

touch

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

From this reading It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of the disc.

two

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

up

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

From this reading At that distance from the moon it must have been considerable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Here was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again.