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

Chapter XXXVI · A Struggle Against the Impossible

Cover illustration for From the Earth to the Moon
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.
The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.
This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.
If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?
That was a difficult point.
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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 XXXVI · A Struggle Against the Impossible

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.
Line 2
The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.
Line 3
This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.
Line 4
If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?
Line 5
That was a difficult point.

Learner Dictionary

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

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.”

Hers pronoun US /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading “If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “That was a difficult point.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

altered

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

Barbicane

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

base

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

Canaan

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

change

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

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

companions

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

difficult

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

From this reading That was a difficult point.

distance

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

earth

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

elliptical

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

fail

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

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

gravitate

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

heaviest

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

herspronounUS /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

land

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

leaving

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

moon

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

Moses

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

now

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

only

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

orbit

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading That was a difficult point.

position

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

possibility

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

projectile

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

projectile's

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

regard

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

returning

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

round

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

sadly

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

satellite

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

saw

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

seen

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

silently

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

surprise

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

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

turned

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

turns

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

verified

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

From this reading This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise them.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

why

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

From this reading If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned toward it, as the moon turns hers to the earth?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The projectile’s position with regard to the moon had altered, and the base was now turned to the earth.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.

world

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

From this reading For a long time Barbicane and his companions looked silently and sadly upon that world which they had only seen from a distance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it.