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Blackbeard: Buccaneer
Blackbeard: Buccaneer

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Blackbeard: Buccaneer
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.
He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.
With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.
But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.
It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Blackbeard: Buccaneer

Chapter V

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.
Line 2
He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.
Line 3
With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.
Line 4
But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.
Line 5
It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

Learner Dictionary

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

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.”

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.”

Forecastle noun US /ˈforecastle/

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

From this reading “RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.”

Obtain verb US /əbˈteɪn/

to get something, especially through effort

From this reading “It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.”

Pirates noun US /ˈpirates/

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

From this reading “It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

bade

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

bestrode

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.

CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

cast

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

cause

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

COCKRELL

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

comfort

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

From this reading But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.

conveyed

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

From this reading But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

deck

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

despair

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

down

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

FEARFUL

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

figure

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

flat

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.

forecastlenounUS /ˈforecastle/

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

fray

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

gaze

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

gesture

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

From this reading But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.

gun

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

Hawkridge

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But Joe had no comfort for him, as a gesture conveyed.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

JACK

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

Joe

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

Joe's

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

joined

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

knew

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

lay

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

like

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

loose

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

mow

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

nine-pounder

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/

to get something, especially through effort

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

piratesnounUS /ˈpirates/

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

rake

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

RELEASING

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

roof

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

rove

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

sailors

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

scheme

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

scrawny

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

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

serve

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

slew

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

sprawled

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

trapped

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

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

WEAPON

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

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

Wellsby

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading RELEASING A FEARFUL WEAPON JACK COCKRELL sprawled flat upon the forecastle roof and knew not what to do.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading He could lay hands on nothing to serve as a weapon and he bade fair to be trapped like the sailors whose cause he had joined.

wild

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

From this reading It had been Joe's wild scheme to obtain the help of Jack and Captain Wellsby, at the least, and so cast loose the gun and slew it around to rake the deck and mow the pirates down.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With a feeling of despair he let his gaze rove to the scrawny figure of Joe Hawkridge who still bestrode the nine-pounder and took no part in the fray.