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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 While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was a nondescript who had joined the ship as a landsman.
awkward
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From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
cabin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
crockery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
devil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
dismissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon which, he was dismissed, and returned to the forecastle.
excessively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
filling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
forecastlenounUS /ˈforecastle/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Upon which, he was dismissed, and returned to the forecastle.
get
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From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
gliding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a nondescript who had joined the ship as a landsman.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
joined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a nondescript who had joined the ship as a landsman.
landsman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a nondescript who had joined the ship as a landsman.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
nondescript
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a nondescript who had joined the ship as a landsman.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
omit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
pitching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
previously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Upon which, he was dismissed, and returned to the forecastle.
rigging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
Rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
Ropey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
sailor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
scalded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
seaman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a nondescript who had joined the ship as a landsman.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
soup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
steward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
stumbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
timid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
translated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
tureen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon which, he was dismissed, and returned to the forecastle.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being so excessively timid and awkward, it was thought useless to try and make a sailor of him; so he was translated into the cabin as steward; the man previously filling that post, a good seaman, going among the crew and taking his place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a nondescript who had joined the ship as a landsman.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Upon which, he was dismissed, and returned to the forecastle.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But poor Ropey proved quite as clumsy among the crockery as in the rigging; and one day when the ship was pitching, having stumbled into the cabin with a wooden tureen of soup, he scalded the officers so that they didn’t get over it in a week.
YarnnounUS /jɑrn/
an informal story or conversation
From this reading While gliding along on our way, I cannot well omit some account of a poor devil we had among us, who went by the name of Rope Yarn, or Ropey.
