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

Chapter LVI · Of The Less Erroneous Pictures Of Whales, And The True Pictures Of Whaling Scenes

Of The Less Erroneous Pictures Of Whales, And The True Pictures Of Whaling Scenes, section 1: In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.
But I pass that matter by.
I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.
In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.
Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Chapter LVI · Of The Less Erroneous Pictures Of Whales, And The True Pictures Of Whaling Scenes

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

Line 1
In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.
Line 2
But I pass that matter by.
Line 3
I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.
Line 4
In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.
Line 5
Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

Learner Dictionary

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

connexion noun US /kəˈnekʃən/

a connecting shape

From this reading “In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.”

Collocations
In connexionA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
connexion withA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 69

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

Beale's

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.

best

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

From this reading Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

better

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

From this reading Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I pass that matter by.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But I pass that matter by.

c

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

certain

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

chapter

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

From this reading In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.

Colnett

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

From this reading In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.

Colnett's

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

connexionnounUS /kəˈnekʃən/

a connecting shape

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

Cuvier

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

Cuvier's

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

enter

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

especially

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

far

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

From this reading Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

four

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

Frederick

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

Hackluyt

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

Harris

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

Huggins's

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

matter

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

From this reading But I pass that matter by.

modern

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

monstrous

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

more

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

odds

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

From this reading Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

only

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

outlines

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

pass

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

From this reading But I pass that matter by.

pictures

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

Pliny

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

previous

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

From this reading In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.

published

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

Purchas

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

referred

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

From this reading In the previous chapter Colnett and Cuvier have been referred to.

Sperm

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

stories

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

strongly

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

tempted

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But I pass that matter by.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

theirspronounUS /ðerz/

the one or ones belonging to them

From this reading Huggins’s is far better than theirs; but, by great odds, Beale’s is the best.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

Whale

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

From this reading I know of only four published outlines of the great Sperm Whale; Colnett’s, Huggins’s, Frederick Cuvier’s, and Beale’s.

whales

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales, I am strongly tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them which are to be found in certain books, both ancient and modern, especially in Pliny, Purchas, Hackluyt, Harris, Cuvier, &c.