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 Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
balanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
bows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
buckshot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
bulk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
cable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
climbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
cook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
crack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
dividednounUS /ˈdivided/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
flaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
foc'sle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
Followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
galley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
grunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
Harvey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
hawse-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
jarred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
kick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
motions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
pans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
pause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
pierced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
plunge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
pots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
punt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
racketed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
repeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a sailing ship with two or more masts
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
seas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
sickle-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
squeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
squelch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
surging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
swoop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
tune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
Up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
volley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harvey waked to find the "first half" at breakfast, the foc'sle door drawn to a crack, and every square inch of the schooner singing its own tune.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could hear the flaring bows cut and squelch, and there was a pause ere the divided waters came down on the deck above, like a volley of buckshot.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
windlass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black bulk of the cook balanced behind the tiny galley over the glare of the stove, and the pots and pans in the pierced wooden board before it jarred and racketed to each plunge.
woolly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
yaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Followed the woolly sound of the cable in the hawse-hole; and a grunt and squeal of the windlass; a yaw, a punt, and a kick, and the _We're Here_ gathered herself together to repeat the motions.
yearning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up and up the foc'sle climbed, yearning and surging and quivering, and then, with a clear, sickle-like swoop, came down into the seas.