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 In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
advise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
another's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
charge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
competent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
consists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
depend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
deserts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
economical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
EMILY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EMILY GOODRIDGE.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
exertions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
fails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
fritters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
GOODRIDGE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EMILY GOODRIDGE.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
lesson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
mainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
peril
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
principally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
raft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
refrain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
stock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
struggling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
trade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
unreasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
wastes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
