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 THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
adjective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/
to reach or total a particular quantity or value
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
attentions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The _Xiphias_, however, was good from the beginning.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
Cachalot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
captains
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From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
certain
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From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
chapter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
consequent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
CruisenounUS /kruːz/
a journey by sea for a particular purpose
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
definite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
difference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
endeavouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
endured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
exuberant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The _Xiphias_, however, was good from the beginning.
GOODnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
heading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
helpless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The _Xiphias_, however, was good from the beginning.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
italicised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
lick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
readers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
SHIPnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
unavoidable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
violentnounUS /ˈviolent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A certain amount of unavoidable suffering was endured by the new hands at the beginning of the cruise, consequent entirely upon the sudden violent change in their lives.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The _Xiphias_, however, was good from the beginning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And perhaps the officers were just a trifle exuberant in their attentions to the helpless, clumsy men they were endeavouring to lick into shape.
whaleship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
XIPHIAS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE _GOOD_ SHIP ‘XIPHIAS’ Of definite purpose I have italicised the adjective in the heading of this chapter because I have often feared that readers of ‘The Cruise of the _Cachalot_’ may have been led to believe that there could not be such a thing as a good whaleship.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet even there I did try to show how vast a difference a change of captains made.
