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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Nothing weighed anything.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nothing could be considered light or heavy.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing could be considered light or heavy.
copper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nothing could be considered light or heavy.
difference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing could be considered light or heavy.
imaginary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing could be considered light or heavy.
masses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sensation of weight.
NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing weighed anything.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no sensation of weight.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nothing could be considered light or heavy.
penny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sensation of weight.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The difference in weight between a copper penny and the ship itself was imaginary.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sensation of weight.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no sensation of weight.
weigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
weighednounUS /ˈweighed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Nothing weighed anything.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sensation of weight.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.
zero
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had different masses, but both would weigh the same--zero.