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Forbidden Cargoes
Forbidden Cargoes

Chapter XII · Destruction

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Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.
Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.
In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.
It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.
That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Forbidden Cargoes

Chapter XII · Destruction

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.
Line 2
Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.
Line 3
In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.
Line 4
It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.
Line 5
That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.”

Leafless adjective US /ˈliːfləs/

having no leaves, usually because of the season

From this reading “Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

Banana

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

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

black

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

blows

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

bones

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

came

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

Carib

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

Caribbean

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

cleared

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

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

crashing

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

down

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

dry

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

forest

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

fronds

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

fully

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

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

giant

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

giants

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

gibbet

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

girdled

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

GreatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

Indian

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

Johnny

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

Kennedy

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

knew

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

From this reading That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

land

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

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/

having no leaves, usually because of the season

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

less

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

like

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

limbs

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

Madge

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

mahogany

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

many

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

Maria

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

nargusta

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

often

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

other

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

palms

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

place

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

From this reading That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

plantation

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

planting

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

From this reading Banana land is never fully cleared before planting.

plants

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

ponderous

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

rattle

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

Santa

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

Sea

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

stalwart

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

storm

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

sweeps

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

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

tamarind

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

tearing

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

Thompson

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

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

tight

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

From this reading That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

trees

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

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In the time of a great wind such as often sweeps across the Caribbean Sea, dead limbs of girdled trees and the ponderous fronds of palms come crashing down upon the less stalwart banana plants.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

well

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

From this reading That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading That they were in a tight place Johnny knew right well.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was on such a half cleared plantation that Johnny Thompson, Madge Kennedy and the giant black Carib Indian found themselves when the storm came tearing in from the sea.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Great giants of the forest, mahogany, nargusta, black tamarind, Santa Maria, and many other great trees are girdled and left standing to rattle their dry and leafless limbs like bones on a gibbet to every wind that blows.