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The Dueling Machine
The Dueling Machine

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Dueling Machine
Context Illustration Reading 1/96 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.
Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.
The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Dueling Machine

Chapter I

Reading 1/96 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.
Line 2
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Line 3
The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.
Line 4
Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.
Line 5
The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.”

Someone pronoun US /ˈsʌmwʌn/

a person, without saying who

From this reading “The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.”

All words in this reading · 75

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1963

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

aircars

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

all

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

Analog

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

any

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

avenues

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

broad

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

buildings

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

busy

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

city

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

copyright

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

Dulaq

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

effort

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

enormous

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

etext

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

evidence

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

expend

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

Extensive

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

Fact

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

Fiction

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

figuring

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

gleaming

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

gliding

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

how

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

ideas

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

ingenuity

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

level

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

louse

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

off

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

out

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

pedestrian

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

people

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

produced

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

publication

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

railing

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

renewed

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

research

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

rode

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

S

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

Science

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

slide

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/

a person, without saying who

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

stepped

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

stretched

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

thoroughfares

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

thronged

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

towering

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

trouble

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

U

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

uncover

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

up

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

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.

upper

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

vehicle

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

walked

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

From this reading Dulaq rode the slide to the upper pedestrian level, stepped off and walked over to the railing.

walks

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

From this reading The city stretched out all around him—broad avenues thronged with busy people, pedestrian walks, vehicle thoroughfares, aircars gliding between the gleaming, towering buildings.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1963.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The trouble with great ideas is that someone is sure to expend enormous effort and ingenuity figuring out how to louse them up.