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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 "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
Bob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
companion-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
dismissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
exclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
moving with quick light beats or trembles
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
Gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
GoodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
heavens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
jib
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
jumped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
Just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
lend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
luffed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
mainsail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
nowhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
sea-serpent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
shift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
swinging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
tiller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend a hand.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
unlikely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely.
vacant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Bob was nowhere to be seen_.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?"
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about.