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Across Iceland
Across Iceland

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Across Iceland
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.
Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.
It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.
The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.
We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Across Iceland

Chapter III

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.
Line 2
Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.
Line 3
It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.
Line 4
The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.
Line 5
We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

Learner Dictionary

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

Abeam adverb US /əˈbiːm/

at right angles to a ship’s side

From this reading “We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.”

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.”

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.”

Dangerously adverb US /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/

In a way that involves danger or risk.

From this reading “We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.”

Distant adjective US /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading “Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.”

Whistle noun US /ˈwhistle/

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

From this reading “THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.”

All words in this reading · 93

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 It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

abeamadverbUS /əˈbiːm/

at right angles to a ship’s side

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

abruptly

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

afterwards

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

aid

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

bit

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

blowing

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

cleared

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

close

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

coast

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

dangerous

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

dangerouslyadverbUS /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/

In a way that involves danger or risk.

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

day

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

distance

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

doubt

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

echoes

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

enabled

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

enveloped

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

evening

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

faces

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

fact

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

far

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

FJORDS

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

fog

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

Iceland

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

judge

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

just

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

land

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

mist

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

much

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

near

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

neighbour

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

NextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

off

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

officers

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

other

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

prevailed

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

rain

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

really

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

rises

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

rock

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

sea

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

seem

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

sheer

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

side

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

soon

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

starboard

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

steam-whistle

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

strange

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

sufficiently

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

there

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

thereabouts

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

thick

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

TowardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

vessel

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

From this reading The land thereabouts rises abruptly from the sea, and the echoes from the sheer faces of rock enabled the officers of the vessel to judge their distance.

visible

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

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

way

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

From this reading It may seem strange, but it was a fact, we were really feeling our way along the coast by the aid of the steam-whistle.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

weather

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

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We went dangerously near to another vessel in the fog, but soon afterwards it cleared off a bit, and there, just abeam on the starboard side, was the other vessel, sufficiently close to be a dangerous neighbour in thick weather.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Towards evening we were off the coast of Iceland; the land was not visible, for we were enveloped in fog, but there was no doubt about it, for we could _hear_ that land was not far distant.

whist-playing

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.

whistlenounUS /ˈwhistle/

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

From this reading THE FJORDS Next day rain, fog, and mist prevailed, so there was much whist-playing and smoking below, and much blowing of whistle above.