A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIX
Our opening day was an auspicious one. We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head. It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf. But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here. He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Our opening day was an auspicious one.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.”
the captain of a small ship or boat
From this reading “But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.”
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading “We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Our opening day was an auspicious one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our opening day was an auspicious one.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our opening day was an auspicious one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
not any; not one
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Our opening day was an auspicious one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our opening day was an auspicious one.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our opening day was an auspicious one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
the captain of a small ship or boat
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But that, I was told by the skipper, was nothing to go by down here.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our opening day was an auspicious one.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lone whale, apparently of large size, though spouting almost as feebly as a calf.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He believed right firmly that there were no small whales to be found in these waters at all.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading We had not been within the cruising radius more than four hours before the long-silent; cry of "Blo-o-o-w!" resounded from the mainmast head.
