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Chapter I
_The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way. Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away. Then another. Alan stopped, puzzled. Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Then another.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “_The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Alan stopped, puzzled.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alan stopped, puzzled.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then another.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alan stopped, puzzled.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Alan stopped, puzzled.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two more blasts, quickly together, and the sound of a scream faintly.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then the robots figured out an additional service--putting Man out of his misery._ There was a sudden crash that hung sharply in the air, as if a tree had been hit by lightning some distance away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The robots were built to serve Man; to do his work, see to his comforts, make smooth his way.
