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Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
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Exploration Team
Exploration Team

Chapter I

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Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The nearer moon went by overhead.
It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.
Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.
Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.
It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Exploration Team

Chapter I

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The nearer moon went by overhead.
Line 2
It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.
Line 3
Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.
Line 4
Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.
Line 5
It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

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 “Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The nearer moon went by overhead.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

all

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

asteroid

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

atmosphere-flier

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

bald

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The nearer moon went by overhead.

captured

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

dozing

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

eagle

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

enough

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

felon

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

felonious

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

go

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

huge

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

hurtle

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

Huyghens

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

Instead

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

irregular

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

jagged

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

labors

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

Loren

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

man

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

moon

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

From this reading The nearer moon went by overhead.

nearer

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

From this reading The nearer moon went by overhead.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

occulting

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

odd

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

often

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

out

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

overhead

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

From this reading The nearer moon went by overhead.

paper

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

perch

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

probably

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

quarters

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

room

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

seemingly

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

seen

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

set

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

shape

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

shutters

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

sky

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

speed

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

stars

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

steel

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

sweated

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

technically

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The nearer moon went by overhead.

three-inch

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

too

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

Two

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

untethered

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

wall

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

From this reading It was odd, too, for a man to do paper work in a room with steel shutters and a huge bald eagle--untethered--dozing on a three-inch perch set in the wall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was jagged and irregular in shape, and was probably a captured asteroid.

watch

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

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The nearer moon went by overhead.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Huyghens had seen it often enough, so he did not go out of his quarters to watch it hurtle across the sky with seemingly the speed of an atmosphere-flier, occulting the stars as it went.

work

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

From this reading Instead, he sweated over paper work, which should have been odd because he was technically a felon and all his labors on Loren Two felonious.