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His Unknown Wife
His Unknown Wife

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for His Unknown Wife
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.
Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.
A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.
For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.
Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.
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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.

His Unknown Wife

Chapter VI

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.
Line 2
Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.
Line 3
A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.
Line 4
For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.
Line 5
Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

Learner Dictionary

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

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.”

Overboard adverb US /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/

from a ship into the water

From this reading “A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.”

Passage noun US /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading “Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.”

Undertaking noun US /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/

a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do

From this reading “Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.”

Violent noun US /ˈviolent/

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

From this reading “For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.”

All words in this reading · 126

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 AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

angle

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

became

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

bruise

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

bunk

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

certain

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

chaos

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

clad

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

contrived

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

Cross

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

dangerous

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

dawned

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

day

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

decks

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

degrees

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

developed

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

DISASTER

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

drove

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

elemental

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

exaggerates

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

experiment

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

fitfully

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

forty-five

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

gale

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

gray

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

hand

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

hazardous

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

heavy

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

hurricane

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

incautious

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

indeed

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

insure

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

interpret

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

just

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

landsman

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

lie

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

light

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

limb

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

logs

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

lurch

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

man

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

Maseden

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

momentarily

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

mountain

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

movement

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

nearest

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

night

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

non-combatant

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

northwesterly

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

nose

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

oilskins

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

only

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

overboardadverbUS /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/

from a ship into the water

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

PassagenounUS /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

passenger

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

penalty

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

physical

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

plunging

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

port

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

positively

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

practicable

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

prone

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

rail

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

ready

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

safety

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

sailor

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

sea

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

seaboots

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

seize

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

simultaneously

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

sleep

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

Southern

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

speak

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

storm

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

strong

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

swept

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

tilted

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

tiny

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

trickling

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

ugly

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

unable

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

undertakingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/

a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

UNFORESEEN

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

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

unusually

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

vagaries

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

From this reading Passage along the open decks of the _Southern Cross_ became a hazardous undertaking, an experiment just practicable for a strong man clad in oilskins and seaboots, but positively dangerous for one unable to interpret the vagaries of a ship plunging through a heavy sea.

veritable

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

vessel

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

violentnounUS /ˈviolent/

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A broken limb or ugly bruise was the certain penalty of an incautious movement, if, indeed, one was not swept overboard.

water

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

wave-wash

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

From this reading Maseden contrived to sleep fitfully until a thin gray light, trickling through a tiny port when momentarily free of wave-wash, told him that another day had dawned.

way

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

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading AN UNFORESEEN DISASTER During the night the storm developed into that elemental chaos which the landsman exaggerates into a hurricane and the sailor logs as a strong northwesterly gale.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For a passenger--a non-combatant, so to speak--the only certain way to insure physical safety was to lie prone in a bunk, with a hand ever ready to seize the nearest rail when an unusually violent lurch tilted the vessel to an angle of forty-five degrees and simultaneously drove her nose into a veritable mountain of water.