Every word is available to listen to. 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 stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
ascended
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From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
belonging
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From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
bow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
boy
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From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
comfortable
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From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
command
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From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
daintily
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From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
Down
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From this reading Down this stairway and into the boat I escorted Miss Hemster.
escorted
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From this reading Down this stairway and into the boat I escorted Miss Hemster.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
forestalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
four
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From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
gloved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
half-naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
Hemster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down this stairway and into the boat I escorted Miss Hemster.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Down this stairway and into the boat I escorted Miss Hemster.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
Japanese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
manned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down this stairway and into the boat I escorted Miss Hemster.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
oars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
outcry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
rounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
sampan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
sculling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
seamen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
simultaneously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
slung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
stairway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
stern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
stout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Down this stairway and into the boat I escorted Miss Hemster.
tiller-ropes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She seated herself in the stern and took the tiller-ropes in her hands, now daintily gloved.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I sat down opposite to her and was about to give a command to the men to give way when she forestalled me, and the oars struck the water simultaneously.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading As soon as we had rounded the bow of the yacht there was a sudden outcry from a half-naked Japanese boy who was sculling about in a sampan.
yacht
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stairway was slung on the other side of the yacht from that on which I had ascended, and at its foot lay a large and comfortable boat belonging to the yacht, manned by four stout seamen.
