adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was like watching the last flickers of a life.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/
at or in the front
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
beatverbUS /biːt/
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
boatnounUS /boʊt/
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But still we crawled.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading But still we crawled.
currentnounUS /ˈkɜːrənt/
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
flickersnounUS /ˈflɪkərz/
plural of “flicker” — a momentary flash of light
From this reading It was like watching the last flickers of a life.
floppedverbUS /flɑːpt/
inflected form of “flop” — fall loosely
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was like watching the last flickers of a life.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
Kurtz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was like watching the last flickers of a life.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was like watching the last flickers of a life.
listeningnounUS /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
measurenounUS /ˈmeʒər/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
patiencenounUS /ˈpeɪʃəns/
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
pickverbUS /pɪk/
select carefully from a group
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
progressnounUS /ˈprɑːɡres/
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
SometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
stern-wheel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading But still we crawled.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
tiptoeverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊ/
walk on one's toes
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading To keep the eyes so long on one thing was too much for human patience.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading It was like watching the last flickers of a life.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But still we crawled.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes I would pick out a tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards Kurtz by, but I lost it invariably before we got abreast.
wretchedadjectiveUS /ˈretʃɪd/
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading “The current was more rapid now, the steamer seemed at her last gasp, the stern-wheel flopped languidly, and I caught myself listening on tiptoe for the next beat of the boat, for in sober truth I expected the wretched thing to give up every moment.
