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 Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
abduction
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From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
always
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From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
any
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From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
bleak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
boy
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From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
cabin
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From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
cargo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
clear
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From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
clew
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From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
coal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
craftnounUS /kræft/
a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
deck
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From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
deepen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
destination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
furnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
picking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
piercing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
provisions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
sailer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a sailing ship with two or more masts
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
scraps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
Simoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
Travers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
treated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
voyage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
