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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 A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
any
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From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
arriving
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
Atomic
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
beauty
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
bit
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From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
brains
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
broad
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
climbed
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
combination
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
corridor
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From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
credentials
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From this reading Here the visitor inspected the beauty while the brains inspected the visitor's credentials.
decontaminate
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From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
demonstrate
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From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
depending
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From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
device
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
DoctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
encountered
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
flight
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From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here the visitor inspected the beauty while the brains inspected the visitor's credentials.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
inspected
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From this reading Here the visitor inspected the beauty while the brains inspected the visitor's credentials.
inspection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
invaluable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
main
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From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
matter
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From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
mutual
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From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
offices
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From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
plaza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
presided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
radioactive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
rare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
Research
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
Velikof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Doctor Velikof was ready to demonstrate just such a machine!
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After which mutual inspection the visitor stepped into the exact center of a long corridor and turned either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the two main offices he was to visit.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor arriving at General Atomic Research climbed a broad flight of stairs and then encountered a sort of plaza presided over by a rare combination of brains and beauty.
visitor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here the visitor inspected the beauty while the brains inspected the visitor's credentials.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Here the visitor inspected the beauty while the brains inspected the visitor's credentials.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A device which could decontaminate any bit of radioactive matter would be invaluable--only it was impossible.
