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Caleb West, Master Diver
Caleb West, Master Diver

Chapter XVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.
Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.
When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.
When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.
Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Caleb West, Master Diver

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.
Line 2
Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.
Line 3
When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.
Line 4
When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.
Line 5
Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.”

Faithful noun US /ˈfaithful/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.”

Fourth noun US /fourth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.”

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.”

UNDER preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.”

All words in this reading · 119

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 When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

alert

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

beacons

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

bridge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

burned

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

cloudy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

confined

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

cottage

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

culverts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

curve

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

deep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

dim

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

dimmed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

discomfited

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

driving

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

efforts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

end

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

eyes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

faithfulnounUS /ˈfaithful/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

fast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

fish-house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

fog-drift

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

four

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

fourthnounUS /fourth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

guarded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

harbor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

high

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

higher

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

highway

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

hung

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

illumining

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

Joe's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

Keyport

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

lamps

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

lances

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

lantern-panes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

lanterns

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

Light

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

lighted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

mile

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

moonless

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

much

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

nailed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

old

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

pointing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

poles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

Potts's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

protect

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

puddles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

rail

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

rays

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

retreat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

road

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

rows

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

scanned

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

scattered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

scouting

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From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

sea

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From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

seaweed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

sentinels

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From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

shore

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From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

skirting

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From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

sleet

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From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

soggy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

stole

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

street

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

stumbling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

telegraph-poles

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From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

thick

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

Three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

tide

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

treacherous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

Village

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

washed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

watching

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

wayfarer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were cloudy and the lantern-panes were dimmed by the driving sleet, these beacons confined their efforts to pointing out for the stumbling wayfarer the deep puddles or the higher rows of soggy seaweed washed up by the last high tide into the highway itself.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Only on thick nights, when the fog-drift stole in from the still sea, and even Keyport Light burned dim, did their scouting rays retreat discomfited, illumining nothing but the poles on which the lanterns hung.

widely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three of these were hung on widely scattered telegraph-poles; the fourth was nailed fast to one end of old Captain Potts’s fish-house.

WILLOWS

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading UNDER THE WILLOWS The mile or more of shore skirting the curve of Keyport harbor from Keyport Village to Captain Joe’s cottage was lighted by only four street lamps.

winding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading When the nights were moonless, these faithful sentinels, with eyes alert, scanned the winding road, or so much of it as their lances could protect, watching over deep culverts, and in one place guarded a treacherous bridge without a rail.