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 Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
affair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
astern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
balloon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
begged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
Byfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
CAPTAINnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
chattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My teeth were chattering.
COLENSO
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From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
collapsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
coxswainnounUS /ˈkɑːksən/
the person who steers a small boat
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
demanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
Lunardi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
manageable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
oars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
obeyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
oiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
ring-bolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
roped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
seam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
silk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
slit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
submerged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My teeth were chattering.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My teeth were chattering.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
wholly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
