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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 A VOLCANIC ISLAND.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
awakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
believed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
drowning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
foam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
grabbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
grasping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
grip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
incessantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
ISLAND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VOLCANIC ISLAND.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
notion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
overboardadverbUS /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/
from a ship into the water
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
proverbial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
raging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
retained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
roaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
salt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/
powers of perception and awareness
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
spar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
spray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
strangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
strides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
surf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
tenacity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
thunderous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
torrents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
VOLCANIC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VOLCANIC ISLAND.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading But my senses were not long in coming to me, and I then discovered that what I believed to be rain was salt spray flying in clouds upon and over me from a thunderous surf that was roaring and raging within a few strides.
wreck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lost my senses after I had been in the water a few minutes: whether through being nearly strangled by the foam which broke incessantly over me, or through being struck by some fragment of the wreck I cannot say.
yacht's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay on my back with my face to the sky, and my first notion was that I had dropped to sleep on the yacht’s deck, and that I had been awakened by rain falling in torrents.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I must have retained my grip of the piece of spar I had grabbed hold of on being swept overboard with the proverbial tenacity of the drowning, for I found myself grasping it when I recovered consciousness.
