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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
accompanying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
befell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
boats
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From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
comprising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
craftnounUS /kræft/
a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
crews
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
encountering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
ended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
Frenchman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
goes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
hardy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
insignificant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
lamentable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
madly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
merry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
Pequod's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
predestinated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
prophecynounUS /ˈprɒf.ə.si/
A prediction of what will happen in the future, often divinely or magically inspired.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
providing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
province
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
pursuing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
reserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
sequel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
shattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
ship-keeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
ship-keepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
significant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
slender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As a general thing, these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising the boats’ crews.
timorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
unduly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
vessel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
whale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, in the whale ship, it is not every one that goes in the boats.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
wight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if there happen to be an unduly slender, clumsy, or timorous wight in the ship, that wight is certain to be made a ship-keeper.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was but some few days after encountering the Frenchman, that a most significant event befell the most insignificant of the Pequod’s crew; an event most lamentable; and which ended in providing the sometimes madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers, whose province it is to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale.
