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Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Chapter XXVI · Knights And Squires

Knights And Squires, section 1: The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent. He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endur
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.
He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.
Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.
He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.
Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Chapter XXVI · Knights And Squires

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.
Line 2
He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.
Line 3
Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.
Line 4
He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.
Line 5
Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

Learner Dictionary

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

chief noun US /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading “The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.”

Collocations
The chiefA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
chief mateA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 79

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 The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

adapted

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

ale

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

all

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

arid

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

biscuit

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

bottled

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

coast

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

days

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/

An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

dried

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

drought

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

earnest

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

endure

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

famine

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

famous

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

fast

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

flesh

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

general

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

hard

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

hot

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

icy

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

Indies

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

latitudes

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

like

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

live

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

man

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

mate

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

Nantucket

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

native

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

Only

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

Pequod

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

physical

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

Quaker

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

seen

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

some

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

spoil

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

Starbuck

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

state

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

summers

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

superfluousness

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

thirty

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

Transported

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.

twice-baked

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

up

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

From this reading Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.

well

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

From this reading He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.