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Wyndham's Pal
Wyndham's Pal

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Wyndham's Pal
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Wyndham's Pal

Chapter VI

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
Line 2
He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
Line 3
The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
Line 4
Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
Line 5
Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.”

Fitted adjective US /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading “The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.”

PASSAGE noun US /ˈpassage/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.”

Strangely noun US /ˈstrangely/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

active

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

altered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

beams

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

big

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

borne

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

brain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

brass

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

cabin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

cargo

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

carrying

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

ceiling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

decks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

drops

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

fell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

felt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

illusion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

knew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

lamp

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

languid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

locker

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

lounged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

Marston

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

matchboarded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

MIDDLE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

Moisture

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

moved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

PASSAGEnounUS /ˈpassage/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

plain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

rolled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

satisfaction

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

slack

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

small

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

stern

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

strain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

strangelynounUS /ˈstrangely/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

swung

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.

trickled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

very

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

warm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.

yacht

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.