alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
(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 He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading If the thing were electrical, the current must come through the tube to the top of the head.
conveyedverbUS /kənˈveɪd/
past form of “convey” — (of information) make known; pass on
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/
method or manner of conduct in relation to others
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
recognizable; marked
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
earth-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
electricaladjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪkəl/
relating to or concerned with electricity
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading If the thing were electrical, the current must come through the tube to the top of the head.
helmetnounUS /ˈhelmət/
armor plate that protects the head
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
mentalitynounUS /menˈtæləti/
a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
mind-reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If the thing were electrical, the current must come through the tube to the top of the head.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
PassagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
bring forth or yield
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
productsnounUS /ˈprɑːdəkts/
plural of “product” — commodities offered for sale
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
ShermannounUS /ˈʃɜːrmən/
United States general who was commander of all Union troops in the West; he captured Atlanta and led a destructive march to the sea that cut the Confederacy in two (1820-1891)
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
short-circuitverb
hamper the progress of; impede
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was not certain that the thing was electrical, and ignorant of how the current was conveyed if it were.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
a special situation
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But something had to be dared, and this seemed to offer the best opportunity.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading If the thing were electrical, the current must come through the tube to the top of the head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
the upper part of anything
From this reading If the thing were electrical, the current must come through the tube to the top of the head.
tubenounUS /tuːb/
conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading If the thing were electrical, the current must come through the tube to the top of the head.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the Passages The first thing to be done, Sherman decided, was to short-circuit the mind-reading helmet of the guard at the door, if it were possible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He realized that he was dealing with the products of an utterly alien form of mentality, one that might not produce its results in the same way as an earth-man would at all.
