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 sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
anxiously
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From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
any
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From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
arose
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From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
blots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
breakers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
continuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
daylight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
distinguished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
equal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
eternal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
expert
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From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
fall
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From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
heaved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
heaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
Herrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
inferred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
isle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
PEARL-FISHER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
potency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
rail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
roaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a sailing ship with two or more masts
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
stared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
starry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
vicissitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PEARL-FISHER About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
volume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
weighednounUS /ˈweighed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
