adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
babyhoodnounUS /ˈbeɪbihʊd/
the early stage of growth or development
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
bearingsnounUS /ˈberɪŋz/
plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
boastverbUS /boʊst/
show off
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
by-products
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
cleansnounUS /kliːnz/
plural of “clean” — a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
considerverbUS /kənˈsɪdər/
deem to be
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
dependentadjectiveUS /dɪˈpendənt/
relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
discoverynounUS /dɪˈskʌvəri/
the act of discovering something
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
dominionnounUS /dəˈmɪnjən/
dominance or power through legal authority
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
drivenadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪvən/
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
expansionnounUS /ɪkˈspænʃən/
the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
failsverbUS /feɪlz/
third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
farmersnounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
glovesnounUS /ɡlʌvz/
plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
greasedadjectiveUS /ɡriːst/
smeared with oil or grease to reduce friction
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
hearsenounUS /hɜːrs/
a vehicle for carrying a coffin to a church or a cemetery; formerly drawn by horses but now usually a motor vehicle
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/
the aggregate of past events
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
industrynounUS /ˈɪndəstri/
the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
intenseadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtens/
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
linersnounUS /ˈlaɪnərz/
plural of “liner” — (baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
mechanicaladjectiveUS /məˈkænɪkəl/
using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
mineralnounUS /ˈmɪnərəl/
solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
miningnounUS /ˈmaɪnɪŋ/
the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
nosenounUS /noʊz/
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
OceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
petroleumnounUS /pəˈtroʊliəm/
a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
plowsnounUS /plaʊz/
plural of “plow” — a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
productionnounUS /prəˈdʌkʃən/
the act or process of producing something
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/
possessing material wealth
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
runverbUS /rʌn/
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
shopgirl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
spectacularadjectiveUS /spekˈtækjələr/
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
stopverbUS /stɑːp/
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
takesnounUS /teɪks/
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No industry can boast a history more dramatic, more exciting, than that of oil.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
usefulnessnounUS /ˈjuːsfəlnəs/
the quality of being of practical use
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
vaselinenounUS /ˈvæsəliːn/
a trademarked brand of petroleum jelly
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
vastadjectiveUS /væst/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading From the discovery of petroleum, on through the development of its usefulness and the vast expansion of its production, the story is one of intense human interest, and not even the story of mining has chapters more stirring or more spectacular.
watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Ocean liners and farmers' plows are driven by it; it takes the rich man to his office and it cleans the shopgirl's gloves; it gives us dominion over the air and beneath the waters of the sea.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The average man has never stopped to consider how close he is to the oil business or how dependent he is upon it; from babyhood, when his nose is greased with vaseline, to the occasion when a motor hearse carries him on his last journey, there is not often a day when he fails to make use of mineral oil or some of its by-products.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We live in a mechanical age, and without oil our bearings would run hot and civilization, as we know it, would stop.
