Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
Ahab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
Ahab's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
ahead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
alongside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
apart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
Asphaltites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
astern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
beach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
boat's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
bow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
cedar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
chafed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
crouching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
flank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
flickering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
ghosts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
glossy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
Gomorrah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
killed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
lantern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
leeward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
midnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
moaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
nightfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
Parsee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
planks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
sharks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
shuddering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
slain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
spectrally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
spout-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
squadrons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
surf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
tails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
tapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
thrust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
unforgiven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
waif-pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
waves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat that had killed it lay by its side all night; and that boat was Ahab’s.
whale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
whale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
whales
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale’s spout-hole; and the lantern hanging from its top, cast a troubled flickering glare upon the black, glossy back, and far out upon the midnight waves, which gently chafed the whale’s broad flank, like soft surf upon a beach.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
windwardnounUS /ˈwindward/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ahab and all his boat’s crew seemed asleep but the Parsee; who crouching in the bow, sat watching the sharks, that spectrally played round the whale, and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails.
