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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
attentive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
Bates
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From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
board
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From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
bowline
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From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
boys
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From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
clove
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From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
COMPANY
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From this reading ORGANIZING THE SHIP'S COMPANY.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
demand
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From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
employed
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From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
few
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From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
hitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
instructor
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From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
knot
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From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
knots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
Lily
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From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
most
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From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
operations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
ORGANIZING
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From this reading ORGANIZING THE SHIP'S COMPANY.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
patient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
principal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
quartermasternounUS /ˈquartermaster/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
repeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
rigging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
SHIP'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ORGANIZING THE SHIP'S COMPANY.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
stopping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
students
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ORGANIZING THE SHIP'S COMPANY.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
tie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
useful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
wharf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The short lines which had been on the wharf for a week were in demand, and the old man showed the boys how to make a few of the most useful knots.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old quartermaster was patient with them while they were attentive to their duty; and in a few days they could make a bowline hitch, tie a square knot, put a clove hitch on a stick, and some others.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They were required to repeat the operations till they could make the knots without stopping to dream over them.
