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On The Blockade
On The Blockade

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for On The Blockade
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.
It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.
On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.
So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.
The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

On The Blockade

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.
Line 2
It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.
Line 3
On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.
Line 4
So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.
Line 5
The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.”

Pulled noun US /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

allowed

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

BATTERY

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

boats

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

closely

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

cottage

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

crews

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

cutter

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

dark

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

discovered

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

fall

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

far

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

feet

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

followed

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

former

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

head

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

high

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

hour

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

house

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

illuminated

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

inside

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

investigate

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

keeper

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

Key

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

light

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

longer

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

matter

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

men

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

moderate

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

muffled

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

oars

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

ordinary

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

pullednounUS /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

reached

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

rise

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

Seahorse

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

second

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

SHORE

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

silent

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

stop

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

stroke

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

talk

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

there

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

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading So far as could be discovered there was no one on the Key, though the boats did not stop to investigate this matter.

tide

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

tomb

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

tower

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

From this reading On the Key was a light house, and a cottage for the keeper of it; but the former was no longer illuminated, and the house was as dark as the head of the tower.

two

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

VISIT

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

From this reading THE VISIT TO A SHORE BATTERY The first cutter reached the Seahorse Key closely followed by the second.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The crews still pulled a moderate stroke with their muffled oars, the men were not allowed to talk, and everything was as silent as the inside of a tomb.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading It was within an hour of high tide, the ordinary rise and fall of which was two and a half feet.