used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HUMPHRY AND HIS “WONDERFUL LAMP.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
a youthful male person
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
the act of burning something
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
combustiblenoun
a substance that can be burned to provide heat or power
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
CombustionnounUS /kəmˈbʌstʃən/
a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
dartverbUS /dɑːrt/
move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
evolutionnounUS /ˌevəˈluːʃən/
a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
set up or found
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HUMPHRY AND HIS “WONDERFUL LAMP.”
HUMPHRY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HUMPHRY AND HIS “WONDERFUL LAMP.”
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
incandescentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈdesənt/
emitting light as a result of being heated
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading HUMPHRY AND HIS “WONDERFUL LAMP.”
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
and nothing more
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
oxygennounUS /ˈɑːksədʒən/
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
productionnounUS /prəˈdʌkʃən/
the act or process of producing something
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
quitverbUS /kwɪt/
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
Identical; not different.
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
substancesnounUS /ˈsʌbstənsəz/
plural of “substance” — the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Now the boy had before reflected upon the production of _heat_ by the _slow combination_ of oxygen with certain combustible substances, so he immediately passed to the consideration of the production of _light_ by the same means.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What,” said he to himself, “are those brilliant sheets of light that dart from burning substances?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading And why is it that certain bodies burn with the evolution of flame, and that others are merely capable of being rendered incandescent at the highest heat?”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Humphry found it impossible to quit the subject of Combustion without some inquiry as to the nature of flame.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading HUMPHRY AND HIS “WONDERFUL LAMP.”
