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 captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
all
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
always
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From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
assembled
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
authoritative
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From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
bridge
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
busybody
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From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
calm
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
cheeks
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From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
comprised
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From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
day
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
days
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
dinner
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
down
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From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
employment
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
especially
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
exercise
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From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
few
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
gentlest
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From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
humanly
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
land
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
made
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
majestic
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
men
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From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
monotonous
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
others
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From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
overtook
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
possible
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
power
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From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
ran
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From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
rare
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From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
re-reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
set
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From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
spectacle
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From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
spin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
sunset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
terribly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
twentieth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
unwilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was always unwilling to exercise his authoritative power.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
volumes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
voyage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One day, after dinner, which want of employment had made us spin out as long as it was humanly possible, we were all assembled on the bridge, watching the monotonous but ever majestic spectacle of a sunset over the sea.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The captain was the gentlest of men, and, what is very rare, was nothing of a busybody.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, in spite of all, the voyage seemed terribly long, especially when the calm set in which overtook us a few days only before we made land!...
wretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
yawning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were smoking, others were re-reading for the twentieth time one of the thirty volumes which comprised our wretched library; all were yawning till the tears ran down their cheeks.
