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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
any
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
approached
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From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
automatic
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
borer
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
building
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
called
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
Clewe
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
conclusion
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
cone
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From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
conicalnounUS /ˈconical/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
contained
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From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
contains
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From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
cylindrical
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
decreasing
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From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
diameter
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
differed
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From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
disappointing
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
eighteen
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
end
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From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
enormous
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From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
excepting
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
experiments
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
explosives
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From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
extraordinary
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
far
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
features
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
feet
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
flat
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From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
form
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
formed
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From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
four
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From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
interested
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
inventor
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
large
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
lens-house
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
many
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From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
mechanism
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
motive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
number
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From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
original
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
peculiarity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
photic
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
projectile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
pursued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
rings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
rocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
Roland
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
send
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This extraordinary piece of mechanism, which was called the automatic shell, was of cylindrical form, eighteen feet in length and four feet in diameter.
similar
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From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
size
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
solid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The forward end was conical and not solid, being formed of a number of flat steel rings, decreasing in size as they approached the point of the cone.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
upward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It differed, however, from the rocket or any other similar projectile, and many of its features were entirely original with Roland Clewe.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading This was an enormous projectile, the peculiarity of which was that its motive power was contained within itself, very much as a rocket contains the explosives which send it upward.
works
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From this reading In a large building, not far from the lens-house in which Roland Clewe had pursued the experiments which had come to such a disappointing conclusion, there was a piece of mechanism which interested its inventor more than any other of his works, excepting of course the photic borer.
