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 Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
admirable
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From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
all
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From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
aptitude
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From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
balloon
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From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
box
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From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
business
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From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
colony
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From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
covering
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From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
Cyrus
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From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
delicate
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From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
devoted
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From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
equal
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From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
firmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
garments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
Gideon
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From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
Harding's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
Herbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
Indeed
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From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
irritated
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From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
January
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
knows
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From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
lack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
linen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
manufacture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
measure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
patience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
Pencroft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
re-employing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
sailors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
sewing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
sewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
Spilett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
sturdy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
tailoring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, everybody knows that sailors have a remarkable aptitude for tailoring.
thanks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
unpicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers, and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was no lack of thread, thanks to Cyrus Harding’s idea of re-employing that which had been already used in the covering of the balloon.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This with admirable patience was all unpicked by Gideon Spilett and Herbert, for Pencroft had been obliged to give this work up, as it irritated him beyond measure; but he had no equal in the sewing part of the business.
