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 encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
boats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
BraveadjectiveUS /breɪv/
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
creep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
drove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
encountered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
eternal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
flash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
fog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
fog-banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
follow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
forty-fourth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
Ghost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
harried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
herd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
hunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
lowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
nightfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
northward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
obscurity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
observationnounUS /ˈobservation/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
parallel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
perilous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
raw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
ripple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
sea-wraiths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
seal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
seemingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
settle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
stormy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
swallowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
sweep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
swiftly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
thicker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
waves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A day of clear weather might follow, or three days or four, and then the fog would settle down upon us, seemingly thicker than ever.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We encountered it well up to the forty-fourth parallel, in a raw and stormy sea across which the wind harried the fog-banks in eternal flight.
winds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brave winds, blowing fair, swiftly drove the _Ghost_ northward into the seal herd.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For days at a time we could never see the sun nor take an observation; then the wind would sweep the face of the ocean clean, the waves would ripple and flash, and we would learn where we were.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The hunting was perilous; yet the boats, lowered day after day, were swallowed up in the grey obscurity, and were seen no more till nightfall, and often not till long after, when they would creep in like sea-wraiths, one by one, out of the grey.