accessnounUS /ˈækses/
the right to enter
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
acidadjectiveUS /ˈæsəd/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
anew
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
(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 The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
batteriesnounUS /ˈbætəriz/
plural of “battery” — group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
battery-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
carboynounUS /ˈkɑːrbɔɪ/
a large bottle for holding corrosive liquids; usually cushioned in a special container
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
EdisonnounUS /ˈedɪsən/
United States inventor; inventions included the phonograph and incandescent electric light and the microphone and the Kinetoscope (1847-1931)
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
Edison'snounUS /ˈedɪsənz/
possessive form of “edison” — United States inventor; inventions included the phonograph and incandescent electric light and the microphone and the Kinetoscope (1847-1931)
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
apart from; not including
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
experimentingverbUS /ekˈsperəmentɪŋ/
-ing form of “experiment” — to conduct a test or investigation
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
insatiableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈseɪʃəbəl/
impossible to satisfy
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
manager'snounUS /ˈmænɪdʒərz/
possessive form of “manager” — someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
not any; not one
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
come into possession of
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
OperatorsnounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtərz/
plural of “operator” — (mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
sulphuricadjective
of or relating to or containing sulfur
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
tippedadjectiveUS /tɪpt/
having a tip; or having a tip as specified (used in combination)
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
undoingnounUS /ənˈduːɪŋ/
an act that makes a previous act of no effect (as if not done)
From this reading The insatiable thirst for knowledge beyond known facts again proved Edison's undoing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The carboy tipped over, the acid ran out, went through to the manager's room below, and ate up his desk and all the carpet.
the act of using
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I went one night," he says, "into the battery-room to obtain some sulphuric acid for experimenting.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
which person or people
From this reading This rule did not mean much to Edison, who had access to no other instruments except those of the company.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Operators were strictly forbidden to remove instruments or to use batteries except on extra work.
