Chapter VI · Chapter 6

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

From this reading The river at that point is three quarters of a mile wide.

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

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

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

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

a medium that disseminates via telecommunications

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

a telegram sent abroad

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

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

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

a set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

without stop or interruption

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

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

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

placed crosswise

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

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

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

United States inventor; inventions included the phonograph and incandescent electric light and the microphone and the Kinetoscope (1847-1931)

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

the act of giving

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

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

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

the 2nd largest of the Great Lakes

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

of great significance or value

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

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

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

someone who is the first to think of or make something

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

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

From this reading The river at that point is three quarters of a mile wide.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

press tightly together or cram

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

the literary culture

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

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

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

past form of “mend” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

plural of “message” — a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading The river at that point is three quarters of a mile wide.

a telegraph code in which letters and numbers are represented by strings of dots and dashes (short and long signals)

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

on one occasion

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

(mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading The river at that point is three quarters of a mile wide.

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

housing available for people to live in

From this reading The river at that point is three quarters of a mile wide.

medium for communication

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

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

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

detached by cutting

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

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

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

travel by means of steam power

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

someone who transmits messages by telegraph

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

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

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

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

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The river at that point is three quarters of a mile wide.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

occurring among members of a family usually by heredity

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

up to a particular time

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Navigation was suspended and the ice had broken up so that the stream could not be crossed on foot nor could the broken cable lying in the bed of the river be mended.

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

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.

make whistling sounds

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

plural of “whistle” — the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading The river at that point is three quarters of a mile wide.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "The ingenious young telegrapher suggested signaling Sarnia by giving, with the whistle of a locomotive, the dot-and-dash letters of the Morse telegraph code.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading Or course, this strange whistling caused considerable wonderment on the Canada side until a shrewd operator recognized the long-and-short telegraph letters, and communication was at once established--important messages being transmitted by steam whistles--a gigantic system of broadcasting.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading THE MAKING OF AN INVENTOR "It was during the time young Edison was employed at Port Huron," the radio continued, "that the cable under River St. Clair between that city and Port Sarnia was severed by an ice jam.