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The World Set Free
The World Set Free

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for The World Set Free
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
‘_Never_,’ said Edith stoutly....
For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.
He spoke like one who was full to the brim.
‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.
Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.
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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.

The World Set Free

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
‘_Never_,’ said Edith stoutly....
Line 2
For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.
Line 3
He spoke like one who was full to the brim.
Line 4
‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.
Line 5
Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

administrator

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

atomic

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

banging

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

better

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

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

bombs

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

brim

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

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

broke

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

came

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

civilisation

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

disaster

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

Edith

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

From this reading ‘_Never_,’ said Edith stoutly....

fancy

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

full

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

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

gave

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

gibed

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

hard

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

Holsten

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

humorous

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

I've

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

induced

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

instead

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

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

like

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

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

men

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

much

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

near

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘_Never_,’ said Edith stoutly....

new

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

old

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

Only

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

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

opened

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

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

other

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

people

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

personalities

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

presently

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

prove

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

radio-activity

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

recovery

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

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

said

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

From this reading ‘_Never_,’ said Edith stoutly....

scientific

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

sir

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

smash

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

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

smashed

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

smiling

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

spoke

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

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

stoutly

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

From this reading ‘_Never_,’ said Edith stoutly....

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

talk

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

then

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

there

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

things

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

turn

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.

very

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

way

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

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He spoke like one who was full to the brim.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Only instead of its being a smash that opened a way to better things, it might have been a smash without a recovery.

world

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ‘You know, sir, I’ve a fancy—it is hard to prove such things—that civilisation was very near disaster when the atomic bombs came banging into it, that if there had been no Holsten and no induced radio-activity, the world would have—smashed—much as it did.

young

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

From this reading For a time the talk broke into humorous personalities, and the young people gibed at each other across the smiling old administrator, and then presently one of the young scientific men gave things a new turn.