adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
appliancesnounUS /əˈplaɪənsəz/
plural of “appliance” — a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
attemptedadjectiveUS /əˈtemptɪd/
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
balloonsnounUS /bəˈluːnz/
plural of “balloon” — large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
chatverbUS /tʃæt/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
directingadjectiveUS /dərˈektɪŋ/
showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
discoursesnounUS /dɪˈskɔːrsɪz/
plural of “discourse” — extended verbal expression in speech or writing
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
doctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
familiaradjectiveUS /fəˈmɪljər/
well known or easily recognized
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
forecastlenoun
living quarters consisting of a superstructure in the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
instructiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktɪv/
serving to instruct or enlighten or inform
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
mechanicaladjectiveUS /məˈkænɪkəl/
using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
merryadjectiveUS /ˈmeri/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
necessarilyadverbUS /ˌnesəˈserəli/
in an essential manner
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
held or filled or in use
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
plansnounUS /plænz/
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
practicableadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəbəl/
usable for a specific purpose
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
proposedverbUS /prəˈpoʊzd/
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
readilyadverbUS /ˈredəli/
without much difficulty
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
sciencenounUS /ˈsaɪəns/
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
succeedverbUS /səkˈsiːd/
attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading I am familiar with all the plans attempted and proposed, and not one has succeeded, not one is practicable.
systemnounUS /ˈsɪstəm/
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
ThusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One day the conversation turned upon the means of directing balloons, and the doctor was asked his opinion about it.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “I don’t think,” said he, “that we shall succeed in finding out a system of directing them.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Thus passed the long evenings on the forecastle in merry chat, and during the same time the doctor went on with his instructive discourses.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You may readily understand that I have occupied my mind with this subject, which was, necessarily, so interesting to me, but I have not been able to solve the problem with the appliances now known to mechanical science.
