used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
assistantnounUS /əˈsɪstənt/
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading For some years I had been his trusted assistant.
aviditynoun
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
chemicaladjectiveUS /ˈkeməkəl/
relating to or used in chemistry
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
recognizable; marked
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
divisible by two
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
foodsnounUS /fuːdz/
plural of “food” — any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some years I had been his trusted assistant.
set up or found
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
a person of German nationality
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
GermanynounUS /ˈdʒɜːrməni/
a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
destroyed or killed
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
navigationnounUS /ˈnævəˈɡeɪʃən/
the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
relatingverbUS /rɪˈleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “relate” — make a logical or causal connection
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
renownnounUS /rɪˈnaʊn/
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/
make visible
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
samplesnounUS /ˈsæmpəlz/
plural of “sample” — a small part of something intended as representative of the whole
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
scientistnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪst/
a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some years I had been his trusted assistant.
stupidlyadverbUS /ˈstuːpədli/
in a stupid manner
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
submarinenounUS /ˈsʌbməriːn/
a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
submarinesnounUS /ˈsʌbməriːnz/
plural of “submarine” — a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
syntheticadjectiveUS /sɪnˈθetɪk/
not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading For some years I had been his trusted assistant.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading With the exception of those relating to submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
unravelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
at the time that
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
which person or people
From this reading He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic foods of Germany.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, which I had read with avidity.
a late time of life
From this reading When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory explosion.
