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 A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
actually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
Ahab's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
battle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
clinch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
comparatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
ears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
feud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
fishermen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
frequented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
greedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
hammer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
haunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
intervals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
IshmaelnounUS /ˈɪʃmil/
(Old Testament) the son of Abraham who was cast out after the birth of Isaac; considered the forebear of 12 Arabian tribes
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
knowingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
monster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
mostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
murderous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
mystical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
oath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
oaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
quenchless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
revenge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
seas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
secluded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
shoutednounUS /shouted/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
shouts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
Sperm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
stronger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
sympathetical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
unaccompanied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
uncivilized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
violence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
welded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
Whale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
White
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time past, though at intervals only, the unaccompanied, secluded White Whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly frequented by the Sperm Whale fishermen.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With greedy ears I learned the history of that murderous monster against whom I and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; Ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I, Ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger I shouted, and more did I hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading But not all of them knew of his existence; only a few of them, comparatively, had knowingly seen him; while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given battle to him, was small indeed.
