adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
blewverbUS /bluː/
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
breezenounUS /briːz/
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
calmverbUS /kɑːm/
make calm or still
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
carenounUS /ker/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
diminishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
impaired by diminution
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
dispersedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɜːrst/
distributed or spread over a considerable extent
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
driveverbUS /draɪv/
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
exciteverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪt/
arouse or elicit a feeling
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
fishermennounUS /ˈfɪʃərmɪn/
plural of “fisherman” — someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
fog-banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/
in a gradual manner
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
gullsnounUS /ɡʌlz/
plural of “gull” — a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
hymnsnounUS /hɪmz/
plural of “hymn” — a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation)
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
IcenounUS /aɪs/
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
LandnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
midstnounUS /mɪdst/
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
outspreadadjective
fully extended in width
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Yann was perhaps quieter than usual.
quieteradjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪətər/
comparative of “quiet” — characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Yann was perhaps quieter than usual.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
sereneadjectiveUS /sərˈiːn/
not agitated; without losing self-possession
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
serenelyadverbUS /sərˈiːnəli/
in a peacefully serene manner
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
shipsnounUS /ʃɪps/
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
southnounUS /saʊθ/
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
speedverbUS /spiːd/
move hurridly
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
subsidedverbUS /səbˈsaɪdɪd/
past form of “subside” — wear off or die down
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Yann was perhaps quieter than usual.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But he had nothing to do but be carried serenely in the midst of serene things; only to breathe and let himself live.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
tracklessadjective
having no tracks
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Yann was perhaps quieter than usual.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
wateryadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːtəri/
filled with water
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
weighedverbUS /weɪd/
past form of “weigh” — have a certain weight
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The day before, when they all had set off to the music of the old hymns, there blew a brisk breeze from the south, and all the ships with their outspread sails had dispersed like so many gulls; but that breeze had suddenly subsided, and speed had diminished; great fog-banks covered the watery surface.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He said that the weather was too calm, and appeared to excite himself, as if he would drive away some care that weighed upon him.
Yann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The sea, the gray sea once more, where Yann was gently gliding along its broad, trackless road, that leads the fishermen every year to the Land of Ice.
