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 The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
anchor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
ashore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
Atlantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
barque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
bleak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
blows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
Bordeaux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
breathed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
cargo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
casks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
claret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
colder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
Continent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
Conyngham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
destiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
dischargedverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒd/
released from a duty or job
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
fetch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
Frederick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
Garonne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
Granville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
landed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
LIKE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
mate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
Medoc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
north-west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
passengers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
patched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
plains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
powder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
safely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ‘Granville’ was lying at anchor in the middle of the Garonne river, having safely discharged her deck cargo of empty claret casks and landed a certain number of passengers.
scudded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
SEA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
SHIPS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
spots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
sunny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
UPONprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
wastes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
WHATpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘WHAT are we waiting for? why, two more passengers—grand ladies as they tell me—and the captain has gone ashore to fetch them,’ the first mate of the ‘Granville’ barque, of London, made answer to Frederick Conyngham, and he breathed on his fingers as he spoke, for the north-west wind was blowing across the plains of the Medoc, and the sun had just set behind the smoke of Bordeaux.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are few colder spots on the Continent than the sunny town of Bordeaux when the west wind blows from Atlantic wastes in winter time.
wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIKE SHIPS UPON THE SEA ‘No one can be more wise than destiny.’
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A fine powder of snow scudded across the flat land, which presented a bleak brown face, patched here and there with white.
