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Romance Island
Romance Island

Chapter VIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
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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.

Romance Island

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
Line 2
There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
Line 3
But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
Line 4
Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
Line 5
Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.”

Anybody pronoun US /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading “But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.”

Either determiner US /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading “Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.”

MORNING noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.”

All words in this reading · 97

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 There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

accomplished

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

afar

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

all

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

almost

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

anchor

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

apparently

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

cast

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

coast

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

cut

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

declivities

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

descried

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

deviating

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

difficulty

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

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

direction

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

distinguishable

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

extended

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

fact

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

far

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

feet

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

gorges

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

green

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

height

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

hewn

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

hundred

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

impregnable

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

inland

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

island

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

islands

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

land

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

landing

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

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

latitudes

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

lay

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

light

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

like

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

MORNINGnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

mountain

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

natural

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

once

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

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

parts

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

passing

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

PORCH

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

rampart

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

reach

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

rock

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

rose

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

scarcely

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

several

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

Sheer

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

ships

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

sight

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

sister

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

sloped

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

smoothly

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

steep

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

summit

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

There

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

tortuous

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

upward

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

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

utmost

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

wall

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

From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.

wont

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

world

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

From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.

Yaque

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

From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.