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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 UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
aboard
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
adventure
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From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
Alcatraz
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
all
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From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
attempts
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From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
bay
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
blue
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
bluff-bowed
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
boat
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From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
boatman
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From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
breeze
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From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
called
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
considerable
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From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
craftnounUS /kræft/
a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
cross
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
curly
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From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
days
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
dozen
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From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
drove
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From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
ears
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From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
embarked
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
enjoyment
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From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
farewells
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
get
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From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
hair
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From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
handled
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From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
Johnny
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From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
monosyllables
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From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
rings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
sailboat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
solid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze was strong, and drove even our rather clumsy craft at considerable speed.
swarthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
Talbot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
Two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
UP-RIVER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
waved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading After a dozen attempts to get something more than monosyllables out of him, we gave it up, and settled ourselves to the solid enjoyment of a new adventure.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He handled his boat well, but spoke not at all.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Our boatman was a short, swarthy man, with curly hair and gold rings in his ears.
Yank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UP-RIVER Two days later Yank, Johnny, and I embarked aboard a small bluff-bowed sailboat, waved our farewells to Talbot standing on the shore, and laid our course to cross the blue bay behind an island called Alcatraz.
