used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRUGGLE WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
Barbicane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This change, verified by Barbicane, surprised him greatly.
CanaannounUS /ˈkeɪnən/
an ancient country in southwestern Asia on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea; a place of pilgrimage for Christianity and Islam and Judaism
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading This change, verified by Barbicane, surprised him greatly.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
ellipticaladjectiveUS /ɪˈlɪptɪkəl/
rounded like an egg
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
at any time
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
the act of departing
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
gravitateverbUS /ˈɡrævɪteɪt/
move toward
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading This change, verified by Barbicane, surprised him greatly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
heaviestadjectiveUS /ˈheviəst/
superlative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This change, verified by Barbicane, surprised him greatly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading A STRUGGLE WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
modifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəfaɪd/
changed in form or character
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
MosesnounUS /ˈmoʊzəs/
(Old Testament) the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites from Egypt across the Red sea on a journey known as the Exodus; Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
and nothing more
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
orbitnounUS /ˈɔːrbət/
the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
pensiveadjectiveUS /ˈpensɪv/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
projectilenounUS /prəˈdʒektəl/
a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
relativelyadverbUS /ˈrelətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
satellitenounUS /ˈsætəlaɪt/
man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
cut with a saw
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading A STRUGGLE WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading This change, verified by Barbicane, surprised him greatly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRUGGLE WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
in the direction of
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
verifiedadjectiveUS /ˈverəfaɪd/
proved to be true
From this reading This change, verified by Barbicane, surprised him greatly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The position of the projectile relatively to the moon was modified, and now its lower end was turned towards the earth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading If the bullet was going to gravitate round the satellite in an elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it like the moon to the earth?
in the company of; together with
From this reading A STRUGGLE WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading For some time Barbicane and his companions, mute and pensive, looked at this world, which they had only seen from a distance, like Moses saw Canaan, and from which they were going away for ever.
