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 We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
ahead
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
anon
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
became
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
bracing
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From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
Cape
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
chill
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From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
clear
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From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
cold
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From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
currents
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
dampness
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From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
darkly
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
dense
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
densely
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
eastward
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
endured
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From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
feel
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
felt
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From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
fog
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From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
fogs
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
four
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
frost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
ice
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From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
intensely
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From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
jolly-boat
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
kept
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
KIDD
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From this reading KIDD THE PIRATE.
land
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
latitudenounUS /ˈlætəˌtuːd/
distance north or south of the equator
From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
lee
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
miserable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
murky
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From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
necessary
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
Paul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
peculiar
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
PIRATE
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From this reading KIDD THE PIRATE.
precaution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
raw
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From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
reefs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
Reeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
region
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
settled
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
shoals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
shortened
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From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
slight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
slowly
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
sounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
surely
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From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading KIDD THE PIRATE.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The clear bracing frost, however intense, may be endured; but this chill and murky dampness made one intensely miserable.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
understood
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From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
variable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had scarcely lost sight of Cape St. Francis when the wind became light and variable, and one of those dense fogs peculiar to that region settled surely and slowly, densely and darkly, over land and sea.
wintry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The raw cold of a fog upon a wintry sea in that latitude of ice and snow must be felt to be understood.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We shortened sail, and sent ahead the jolly-boat with four hands in her, to feel our way as it were; while Paul Reeves kept sounding ever and anon, for in that ocean of strong currents, with a slight wind from the eastward, and a shore of reefs and shoals upon our lee, every precaution was necessary.