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 But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
abominable
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From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
addressed
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From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
all
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From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
authorised
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From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
bed
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From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
belie
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From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
BOARD
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From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
calling
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From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
came
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From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
closely
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From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
clutches
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From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
commission
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From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
condition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
escaping
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From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
familiar
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From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
fellow
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From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
fellows
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From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
fish
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From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
fishermen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
impress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
justices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
KING'S
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From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
lantern-jawed
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From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
license
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
mariner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
middle-aged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
net
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
pressgangs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
proving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
regarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
report
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
seamanship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
seamen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
SHIPnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
sickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
squint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
tales
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _ON BOARD THE KING'S SHIP_ The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It is true they were only authorised to impress seamen and fishermen, and that after proving their commission before justices of the peace.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But if report did not belie them, they looked not too closely into a man's seamanship; but, if they found a likely fellow, regarded all as fish which came into their net.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a lieutenant set above the fellows into whose hands I had fallen, a tall, lantern-jawed, middle-aged man, with a most abominable squint, and to him I addressed myself:
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Sir, I am not in a condition to be pressed by you, I am not a mariner by calling; and, moreover, I am but just risen from a bed of sickness."
