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The Universe — or Nothing
The Universe — or Nothing

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Universe — or Nothing is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Universe — or Nothing
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.
"A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.
They'll be here shortly.
If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.
But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Universe — or Nothing

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Universe — or Nothing is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.
/ˈspiːkɪŋ ˈræpədli nɑːt ˈweɪstɪŋ wɜːrdz bræd ʃerd ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən ðæt ræm pæst tuː hɪm bɪˈfɔːr hɪz dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
Line 2
"A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.
Line 3
They'll be here shortly.
Line 4
If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.
Line 5
But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

arena noun US /ərˈiːnə/

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading “But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.”

Brad noun US /bræd/

a small nail

From this reading “Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.”

Drummer noun US /ˈdrʌmər/

someone who plays a drum

From this reading “If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.”

expanded adjective US /ɪkˈspændəd/

increased in extent or size or bulk or scope

From this reading “"A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.”

loading noun US /ˈloʊdɪŋ/

weight to be borne or conveyed

From this reading “"A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.”

Luna noun US /ˈluːnə/

(Roman mythology) the goddess of the Moon; counterpart of Greek Selene

From this reading “"A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.”

neutralize verb US /ˈnuːtrəlaɪz/

make politically neutral and thus inoffensive

From this reading “If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.”

Ram verb US /ræm/

strike or drive against with a heavy impact

From this reading “Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.”

All words in this reading · 55

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

arenanounUS /ərˈiːnə/

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

BradnounUS /bræd/

a small nail

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/

the act of departing

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

doesn't

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

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

DrummernounUS /ˈdrʌmər/

someone who plays a drum

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

enterverbUS /ˈentər/

to come or go into

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

expandedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspændəd/

increased in extent or size or bulk or scope

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

fleetnounUS /fliːt/

group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/

an entrance that can be closed by a gate

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading They'll be here shortly.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

informationnounUS /ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/

a message received and understood

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

INOR

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

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

jobnounUS /dʒɑːb/

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

loadingnounUS /ˈloʊdɪŋ/

weight to be borne or conveyed

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

LunanounUS /ˈluːnə/

(Roman mythology) the goddess of the Moon; counterpart of Greek Selene

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

neutralizeverbUS /ˈnuːtrəlaɪz/

make politically neutral and thus inoffensive

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

RamverbUS /ræm/

strike or drive against with a heavy impact

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/

with speed

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

re-group

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

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/

have in common; held or experienced in common

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

shortlyadverbUS /ˈʃɔːrtli/

for a short time

From this reading They'll be here shortly.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

SpeakingnounUS /ˈspiːkɪŋ/

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

spunnel

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

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

They'll

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

From this reading They'll be here shortly.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading But they'll need time to re-group as they enter this arena.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

UIPS

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

From this reading "A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna.

wastingnounUS /ˈweɪstɪŋ/

any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading If Drummer doesn't neutralize the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared information that Ram passed to him before his departure.

Chapter 12 of The Universe — or Nothing by Meyer Moldeven holds 427 sentences, grouped into 86 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 12 of The Universe — or Nothing contain?

Chapter 12 holds 427 sentences of The Universe — or Nothing, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Universe — or Nothing by Meyer Moldeven exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 427 sentences, grouped into 86 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 12 of The Universe — or Nothing?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Universe — or Nothing

Common questions about reading The Universe — or Nothing by Meyer Moldeven on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Universe — or Nothing?

Yes. All 5871 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18257 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Universe — or Nothing is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18257, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Universe — or Nothing take to read?

About 489 minutes of reading across 1175 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Universe — or Nothing section by section

How to work through The Universe — or Nothing section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of The Universe — or Nothing to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Universe — or Nothing

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Universe — or Nothing, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Meyer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Universe — or Nothing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Moldeven
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Universe — or Nothing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Civilian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Universe — or Nothing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Logistics
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Universe — or Nothing; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.