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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
aged
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From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
away
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From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
beard
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From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
belonged
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From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
BothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
bounty
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From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
canvas
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From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
carrying
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From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
class
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From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
cross-legged
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From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
daybreak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
deck
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From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
errand
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From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
faces
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From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
faithfulnounUS /ˈfaithful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
fitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
gang
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From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
grizzled
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From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
hair
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From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
Just
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From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
laid
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From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
lantern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
lanterns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
men-of-war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
mending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
merited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
Navy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
needles
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From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
pensioners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
retained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
sail-maker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
sail-maker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
seamen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
shrunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
stitching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
tailors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
twine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
undertaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading They belonged to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
