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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
also
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From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
apparently
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From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
averse
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From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
aware
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From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
Barcelona
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
black
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
bludgeons
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From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
brawlers
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From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
cauls
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
class
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From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
coarse
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
COMPANY
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From this reading DANGEROUS COMPANY.
confined
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
contrabandistas
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From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
DANGEROUS
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From this reading DANGEROUS COMPANY.
determine
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From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
drunken
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From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
eight
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From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
fellows
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From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
five
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From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
glossy
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
hair
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
handkerchiefs
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
heads
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
heavy
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From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
homicide
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From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
intensely
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
interfered
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From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
lowest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
merely
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From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
musketsnounUS /ˈmuskets/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
nets
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From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
plans
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From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
robbery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
seafaringadjectiveUS /ˈsiːferɪŋ/
connected with travelling or working at sea
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
slaver's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some had their coarse, but glossy and intensely black hair, confined by nets or cauls; others had only Barcelona handkerchiefs round their heads.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
Spanish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading They were apparently Spanish seafaring men; but whether contrabandistas of the lowest class, a portion of a slaver's crew, or merely drunken brawlers, we could not at first determine.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind us stood eight fellows, five of whom had muskets, and three heavy bludgeons.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading However, they soon made us aware that robbery was their object, and that they were no way averse to a little homicide also, if we interfered with their plans in the least.