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 I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
after-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not a soul was to be seen.
bowspritnounUS /ˈboʊsprɪt/
a spar projecting forward from the bow of a ship
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
concealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
crawled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
drawing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
flapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
forecastlenounUS /ˈforecastle/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
foremostnounUS /ˈforemost/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
gained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
idle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
jib
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
keel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
lee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
mainsail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a soul was to be seen.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
report
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
reverse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
sails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/
hard to find or in short supply
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a sailing ship with two or more masts
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a soul was to be seen.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a soul was to be seen.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
tack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
tossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
trembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
tumbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and tumbled head foremost on the deck.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I had scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a report like a gun.
