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 process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
alongside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
array
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The array of knives and forks frightened him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
background
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
battered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
beef
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
bristled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
dazzle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
dining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
eating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
fascinated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
forecastlenounUS /ˈforecastle/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
forks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The array of knives and forks frightened him.
frightened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The array of knives and forks frightened him.
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
halts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
jerks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
knives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The array of knives and forks frightened him.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
locomotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
lurches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
matesnounUS /mates/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
pannikins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
pea-soup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
perils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
process
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
salt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
scooping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at last he had made it, and was seated alongside of Her.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
sheath-knives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
spoons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
stumbles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
succession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between halts and stumbles, jerks and lurches, locomotion had at times seemed impossible.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The process of getting into the dining room was a nightmare to him.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They bristled with unknown perils, and he gazed at them, fascinated, till their dazzle became a background across which moved a succession of forecastle pictures, wherein he and his mates sat eating salt beef with sheath-knives and fingers, or scooping thick pea-soup out of pannikins by means of battered iron spoons.
