used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
acceptableadjectiveUS /ækˈseptəbəl/
worthy of acceptance or satisfactory
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
babbledverbUS /ˈbæbəld/
past form of “babble” — utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
candidatesnounUS /ˈkændədeɪts/
plural of “candidate” — a politician who is running for public office
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
choosingverbUS /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
examinationsnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “examination” — the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
extinctionnounUS /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/
no longer active; extinguished
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
the act of giving
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
interbreedingnoun
(genetics) the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
engage in
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
potentiallyadverbUS /pəˈtenʃəli/
with a possibility of becoming actual
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
any competition
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
except for; apart from
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
selectionnounUS /səˈlekʃən/
the act of choosing or selecting
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
testsnounUS /tests/
plural of “test” — trying something to find out about it
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tests had proved positive and the first step of selection was almost completed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a while he babbled, but then it began to make sense.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been stationed as a real doctor with a real practice, so that he would have the opportunity of giving preliminary physical examinations and passing on the names of potentially acceptable candidates.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He told about the coming extinction of his race, and the plan for interbreeding which would save it.
a late time of life
From this reading He had been on Earth, he said, for several years, choosing specimens for test purposes.
