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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
advantage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
authorities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
Charley
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From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
coolies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
Creek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
half-ebbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
junknounUS /junk/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
lumbering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
marshes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
navigate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
prevented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
puffy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
Rafael
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
Reindeer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
stronger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
TellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
uncertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
wide-stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
