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Chapter I
This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling. But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius? For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.”
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?”
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.”
demanded something firmly
From this reading “But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
demanded something firmly
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a man my age, the middle 50's, life has a number of compensations.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At fifty, a man should be too old to go around flying off the handle, or wandering around on the ceiling.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1953.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
at the time that
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
which person or people
From this reading But what could a man do when he had a son who insisted on being a genius?
