used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
ATLANTAnounUS /ætˈlæntə/
state capital and largest city of Georgia; chief commercial center of the southeastern United States; was plundered and burned by Sherman's army during the American Civil War
From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
Barbicane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
conceiveverbUS /kənˈsiːv/
have the idea for
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
discreditverbUS /dɪˈskredət/
cause to be distrusted or disbelieved
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
IrishnounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃ/
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
a particular point in time
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
necessarilyadverbUS /ˌnesəˈserəli/
in an essential manner
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
NewfoundlandnounUS /ˈnuːfəndlənd/
a breed of very large heavy dogs with a thick coarse usually black coat; highly intelligent dogs and vigorous swimmers; developed in Newfoundland
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
information about recent and important events
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
PASSENGERnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒər/
a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
probabilitynounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiː/
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
prudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
and nothing more
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading This telegram might be a practical joke, especially as it came from a Frenchman.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PASSENGER OF THE ATLANTA.
in or at that place or location
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
propel through the air
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What probability could there be that any man should conceive the idea of such a journey?
in the company of; together with
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He would have been quite silent about it for prudence' sake, and in order not to throw discredit on his work.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If this wonderful news, instead of coming by telegraph, had simply arrived by post and in a sealed envelope--if the French, Irish, Newfoundland, and American telegraph clerks had not necessarily been acquainted with it--Barbicane would not have hesitated for a moment.
