Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Driven to bay, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Driven to bay, Vol. 3 (of 3)

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Driven to bay, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE HOUSE AMIDSHIPS.
The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.
There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.
The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.
In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Driven to bay, Vol. 3 (of 3)

Chapter IV

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE HOUSE AMIDSHIPS.
Line 2
The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.
Line 3
There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.
Line 4
The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.
Line 5
In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.”

Dreamt verb US /drɛmt/

Experienced dreams during sleep.

From this reading “In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.”

Throughout preposition US /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading “In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.”

Westward adverb US /ˈwɛstwərd/

toward the west

From this reading “There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

actually

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

air

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

AMIDSHIPS

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

From this reading THE HOUSE AMIDSHIPS.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

ashore

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

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

atmosphere

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

attendant

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

breeze

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

close

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

clouds

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

cold

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

considerably

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

damp

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

day

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

depressing

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

down

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

dreamtverbUS /drɛmt/

Experienced dreams during sleep.

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

enjoyable

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

enough

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

excitement

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

faint

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

fallen

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

fond

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

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

get

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

HOUSE

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

From this reading THE HOUSE AMIDSHIPS.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

kept

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

land

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

less

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

lucky

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

making

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

means

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

meetings

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

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

news

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

northerly

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

obscured

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

passengers

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

perhaps

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

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

poured

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

rain

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

reaction

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

realised

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

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

sight

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

spirits

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

squally

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

state

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

suffering

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

sun

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE HOUSE AMIDSHIPS.

theatricals

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

There

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

times

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

torrents

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

up

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

vessel

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

voyage

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

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

weather

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

From this reading The next morning the weather was damp and squally, the air close and depressing.

week

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

week's

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

From this reading In a week’s time, perhaps, they would step ashore, and those fond meetings, of which they had dreamt throughout the voyage, would be realised.

welcome

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

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

westwardadverbUS /ˈwɛstwərd/

toward the west

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There was a faint breeze from the westward, but the clouds, which at times obscured the sun and poured down torrents of cold rain, were making a northerly course.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The day was by no means an enjoyable one, and the spirits of the passengers--which were suffering a reaction after the excitement attendant on the theatricals--would have fallen considerably with the state of the atmosphere, had they not been kept up by the welcome news, that should the vessel be lucky enough to get a fair wind, they would actually sight land in less than a week.