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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 In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
accommodation
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From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
account
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
adjacent
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From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
advanced
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
agitated
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
almost
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
altered
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
any
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
asleep
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From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
atmosphere
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
axis
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
best
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From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
bring
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
captain's
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
cardinal
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
certain
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
change
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
consciousness
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
days
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
degree
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
diminution
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
displacement
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
earth's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
ecliptic
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
effort
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
elementary
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
erection
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From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
experiences
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
far
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
few
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From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
find
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From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
general
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From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
gourbi
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From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
governor
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From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
hitherto
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
hypothesis
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
inclination
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
instructed
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
introduce
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
knowledge
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
laws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
means
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
minutes
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From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
obliged
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From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
owned
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
philosophynounUS /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/
The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
points
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
population
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
pressure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
principles
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
reasonable
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
recall
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From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
ruins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
shortening
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From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
slumbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
theory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
unable
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From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere.