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 JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
all
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From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
arouse
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From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
awakened
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From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
board
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From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
bottom
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From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
breast
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From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
cabin
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From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
came
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From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
CANmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
captain's
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From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
certainly
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From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
constantly
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From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
cranes
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From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
creaking
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From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
day
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From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
deal
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From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
door
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From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
dried
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From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
enthusiasm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
examining
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From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
forbidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
Fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
get
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From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
grimy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
growl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
gruff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
JOB
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
knocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
MAKES
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From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
musty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
NextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
parchments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
PROPOSAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
repayment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
saluted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
SEAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
Staffurth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
tantalizing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
Thrush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
treasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the mystery of it all had certainly awakened him, and he was as keen as myself to get to the bottom of it—and to the treasure, of which I had promised him a small portion as repayment for his services.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
Wharf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading As I went on board the men one and all saluted me, and when I knocked at the door of the captain’s cabin there came a low gruff growl— “Well, what is it now?”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Next day I went down to Fresh Wharf and found the _Thrush_, with cranes creaking over her, looking more grimy and forbidding than ever.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took a great deal to arouse enthusiasm in the breast of old Mr. Staffurth, whose interest in the world had seemed to me as dried up as those musty parchments he was so constantly examining.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL CAN you, my reader, imagine a more tantalizing position than the one in which I now found myself?
