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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
anchor
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From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
billows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
birling
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From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
breeze
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From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
broke
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From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
burst
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From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
came
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From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
ceasing
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From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
chains
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From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
considerably
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From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
contrivances
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From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
cry
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From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
daft-like
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From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
eleven
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From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
foreign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
gave
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From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
hail
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From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
harbour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
HELVOETSLUYS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
Holland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
knowledge
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From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
labour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
leadsman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
new
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From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
nine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
outrageously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
pitchednounUS /pitched/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
sang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/
hard to find or in short supply
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
shoals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
shrouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
squalls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
swelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
thrid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
travel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The song of the leadsman in the chains was now scarce ceasing, for we thrid all the way among shoals.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading We came to an anchor about half-past eleven, outside the harbour of Helvoetsluys, in a place where the sea sometimes broke and the ship pitched outrageously.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
windmills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
wintry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About nine in the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I had my first look of Holland--a line of windmills birling in the breeze.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was besides my first knowledge of these daft-like contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new world and life.
worsened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELVOETSLUYS The weather in the end considerably worsened; the wind sang in the shrouds, the sea swelled higher, and the ship began to labour and cry out among the billows.
