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 Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
according
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
Bar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
bits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
boats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
boiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
breakers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
bundled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
Cape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
cargo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
champagne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
china
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
contained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
crash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
delayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
dirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
Durban
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
East
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
fizzing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
flat-bottomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
goods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
harbour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
landing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
mint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
packages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
sink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
slap-bang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
smashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
strings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
takesnounUS /teɪks/
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
treatment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
tugs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
ugly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
vessel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I saw one case holding four dozen of champagne smashed all to bits, and there was the champagne fizzing and boiling about in the bottom of the dirty cargo boat.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It takes from four to five days, according to the speed of the vessel and the state of the weather, to run up from the Cape to Durban.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But on this occasion we had not to wait at all, for there were no breakers on the Bar to speak of, and the tugs came out at once with the long strings of ugly flat-bottomed boats behind them, into which the packages were bundled with a crash.
wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.
woollen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not matter what they might be, over they went slap-bang; whether they contained china or woollen goods they met with the same treatment.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Sometimes, if the landing is bad at East London, where they have not yet made that wonderful harbour they talk so much of, and sink such a mint of money in, a ship is delayed for twenty-four hours before the cargo boats can get out to take off the goods.