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 As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
afterwards
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From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
all
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From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
approach
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From this reading Its approach at first was imperceptible.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Its approach at first was imperceptible.
awake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
awakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
breathless
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From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
child
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From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
darkness
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From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
dawn
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From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
DAY
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From this reading THE THIRD DAY.
daybreak
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From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
defined
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From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
down
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From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
east
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
extreme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
faint
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From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Its approach at first was imperceptible.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
gradually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
hauled
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From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
hid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
hoisted
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From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
Holdsworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
imperceptible
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From this reading Its approach at first was imperceptible.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its approach at first was imperceptible.
Johnson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
languished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
mingled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
object
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From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
portion
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From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
prevailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
stern-sheets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE THIRD DAY.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
THIRDnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE THIRD DAY.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A faint gray mingled in the prevailing darkness, and gradually grew more defined; the stars languished, and those in the extreme east hid themselves.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Its approach at first was imperceptible.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
widow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As no object could be served by keeping the sail hoisted, they hauled it down and spread a portion of it over the widow and her child.
Winyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Holdsworth kept watch till ten, and then awakened Winyard, who watched till twelve; afterwards Johnson watched; and so the three men took turn and turn about, all through the long and breathless night, until daybreak, which found Winyard awake in the stern-sheets, watching the pale dawn breaking in the east.
