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 The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
Africa
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From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
almost
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From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
ASSIGNED
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From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
attending
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From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
Baxter
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From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
bow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
coast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
cruisers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
Dick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
exciting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
favor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
IMPORTANT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
lookout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
man-of-war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
north-east
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
PHIL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
POSITION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
rendered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
scenes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
SHIPMATESnounUS /shipmates/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
slavers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
steamer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
streak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east.
