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

Chapter CXV · The Pequod Meets The Bachelor

The Pequod Meets The Bachelor, section 1: And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded. It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor,
Context Illustration Reading 1/7 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.
It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.
The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.
Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.
Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Chapter CXV · The Pequod Meets The Bachelor

Reading 1/7 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.
Line 2
It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.
Line 3
The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.
Line 4
Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.
Line 5
Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

Learner Dictionary

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

jolly adjective US /ˈdʒɑːli/

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading “And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.”

Collocations
And jollyA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
jolly enoughA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 119

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 It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

Ahab's

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

all

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

apparel

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

Bachelor

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

barrels

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

basketed

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

bearing

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

bolted

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

bottom

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

bowspritnounUS /ˈboʊsprɪt/

a spar projecting forward from the bow of a ship

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

brazen

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

breakers

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

bunting

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

bursting

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

came

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

captive

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

cask

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

colors

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

cross-trees

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

down

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

enough

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

ensigns

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

few

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

fluid

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

flying

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

glad

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

ground

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

hanging

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

harpoon

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

hatchesnounUS /ˈhatches/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

hats

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

holiday

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

home

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

jacks

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

jaw

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

jollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

joyously

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

just

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

lamp

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

lashed

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

lower

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

main

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

mast-head

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

men

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

nailed

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

Nantucket

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

narrow

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

now

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

oilnounUS /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

pointing

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

previous

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

prow

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

red

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

rigging

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

round

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

sailing

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

saw

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

seen

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

ships

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

side

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

Sideways

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

sights

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

Signals

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

From this reading Signals, ensigns, and jacks of all colors were flying from her rigging, on every side.

slain

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

slender

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

some

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

somewhat

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

sounds

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

sperm

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From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

stern

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

streamers

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

suspended

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

three

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

top-mast

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

tops

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

truck

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

two

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

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.

vain-gloriously

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

wedged

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

weeks

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

welded

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

whale

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

whale-boat

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

widely-separated

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

From this reading It was a Nantucket ship, the Bachelor, which had just wedged in her last cask of oil, and bolted down her bursting hatches; and now, in glad holiday apparel, was joyously, though somewhat vain-gloriously, sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground, previous to pointing her prow for home.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down before the wind, some few weeks after Ahab’s harpoon had been welded.

wore

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

From this reading The three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red bunting at their hats; from the stern, a whale-boat was suspended, bottom down; and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long lower jaw of the last whale they had slain.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Sideways lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm; above which, in her top-mast cross-trees, you saw slender breakers of the same precious fluid; and nailed to her main truck was a brazen lamp.