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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 A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
aft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
agonising
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From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
bounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
calmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
cook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
cricketer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
despairing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
foc'sle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
frantically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
gazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
hurled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
LIFEnounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
listeners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
meerschaum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
Percival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
savednounUS /saved/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
shriek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
smart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
steward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
SWIM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading We started up and gazed towards the spot whence the cry had come.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The colonel, who had been reading on the opposite side of the deck, calmly smoking the while, dropped his book and only saved his meerschaum by a cricketer's smart catch.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The captain came bounding up from below, followed by the steward and his boy; the foc'sle hands, with the black cook, hurled themselves aft.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SWIM FOR LIFE The words died on her lips as a shriek, wild, agonising, despairing, rang through the air, and startled not only the little group of pleased listeners, but all who happened to be on deck at the time.
wringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All guessed the cause as they saw Mrs. Percival wringing her hands frantically and gazing at an object in the sea.
