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 Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
badly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
cannot
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From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
degree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
dishes
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From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
duties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
Familiar
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From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
fared
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From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
hunters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the hunters it was otherwise.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
ignorantnounUS /ˈignorant/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
joke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
joyful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
Louis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
mate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
minutiæ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the hunters it was otherwise.
pains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
proving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
rigging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
rights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
ropes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
sailors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
sails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
setting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
simplest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
sympathized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
teacher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
trimming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I knew nothing of the minutiæ of ropes and rigging, of the trimming and setting of sails; but the sailors took pains to put me to rights,—Louis proving an especially good teacher,—and I had little trouble with those under me.
varying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Familiar in varying degree with the sea, they took me as a sort of joke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
wash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I cannot say that the position of mate carried with it anything more joyful than that there were no more dishes to wash.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I was ignorant of the simplest duties of mate, and would have fared badly indeed, had the sailors not sympathized with me.
