Chapter XXIX

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was a fatality.

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

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

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

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

fearless and daring

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

a variation that deviates from the standard or norm

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

sound recording consisting of a disk with a continuous groove; used to reproduce music by rotating while a phonograph needle tracks in the groove

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

a death resulting from an accident or a disaster

From this reading It was a fatality.

having no cause or apparent cause

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

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

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

cause to move by striking

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

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

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

make less severe or harsh or extreme

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading THE OBSERVERS OF THE MOON.

possessive form of “moon” — the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

plural of “observer” — a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses

From this reading THE OBSERVERS OF THE MOON.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE OBSERVERS OF THE MOON.

and nothing more

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

past form of “suffice” — be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

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

From this reading THE OBSERVERS OF THE MOON.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

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

From this reading However slight it might have been, it had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile.

except if; if not

From this reading The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the moon's disc.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason of this deviation.

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

From this reading It was a fatality.