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 WE MAKE A START.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no one there to see me off, but I did not care for that.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I had no one there to see me off, but I did not care for that.
dock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
East
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
MAKEnounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WE MAKE A START.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I had no one there to see me off, but I did not care for that.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I had no one there to see me off, but I did not care for that.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I had no one there to see me off, but I did not care for that.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
prompt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
Rectus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
regulate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
River
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
Savannah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
STARTnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WE MAKE A START.
steam-ship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had no one there to see me off, but I did not care for that.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no one there to see me off, but I did not care for that.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
WEpronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading WE MAKE A START.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But it was probably impossible for him to regulate his own movements this time, for his father and mother were coming with him, to see him off.
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sitting on the deck of a Savannah steam-ship, which was lying at a dock in the East River, New York.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was waiting for young Rectus, and had already waited some time; which surprised me, because Rectus was, as a general thing, a very prompt fellow, who seldom kept people waiting.
