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A Winter Amid the Ice, and Other Thrilling Stories
A Winter Amid the Ice, and Other Thrilling Stories

Chapter XXIX · The Quaking of the Ice

Cover illustration for A Winter Amid the Ice, and Other Thrilling Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.
The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.
On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.
The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.
The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Winter Amid the Ice, and Other Thrilling Stories

Chapter XXIX · The Quaking of the Ice

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.
Line 2
The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.
Line 3
On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.
Line 4
The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.
Line 5
The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.”

Crew noun US /crew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.”

Formidable adjective US /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/

very difficult to deal with or overcome

From this reading “For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.”

Passage noun US /ˈpassage/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.”

All words in this reading · 71

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

12th

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

advance

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

all

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

almost

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

average

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

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.

blocks

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

blow

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

closed

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.

consisted

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

crewnounUS /crew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

dangers

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

From this reading The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.

days

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

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

degrees

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

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.

enormous

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/

very difficult to deal with or overcome

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

ice

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.

Jeune-Hardie

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

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

obstacles

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

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

often

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

outlet

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

passagenounUS /ˈpassage/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

plain

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

powder

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.

retreat

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

saws

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

sea

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

season

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

From this reading The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.

September

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

several

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

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

sides

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

sixteen

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

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

solid

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

struggled

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

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

sufferings

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

From this reading The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.

surrounding

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

temperature

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

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For several days the “Jeune-Hardie” struggled against formidable obstacles.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

up

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

used

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

vessel

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

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

way

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

winter

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

From this reading The winter season had come on, with its sufferings and dangers.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading On the 12th of September the sea consisted of one solid plain, without outlet or passage, surrounding the vessel on all sides, so that she could neither advance nor retreat.

work

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

From this reading The crew were almost all the time at work with the saws, and often powder had to be used to blow up the enormous blocks of ice which closed the way.

zero

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

From this reading The temperature remained at an average of sixteen degrees below zero.