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Incredible Adventures
Incredible Adventures

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Incredible Adventures
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
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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.

Incredible Adventures

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
Line 2
‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
Line 3
‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
Line 4
No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
Line 5
The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.”

Remember verb US /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

all

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

apex

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

bulk

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

challenge

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

choice

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

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

cumulative

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

disjointed

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

dome

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

due

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

emotion

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

fantastic

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

form

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

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

foundations

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

hideously

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

immense

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

impress

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

impressiveness

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

inadequate

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

instance

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

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

juste

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

kind

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

LooknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

loose

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

majestic

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

mass

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

meant

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

merely

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

monuments

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

mot

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

much

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

opposition

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

other

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

outline

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

pointed

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

possible

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

produced

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

Pyramids

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

From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

said

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

saying

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

shape

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

somewhere

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

spires

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

square

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

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.

symmetry

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

talked

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.

there

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

way

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

From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.

wedge-shaped

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.