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The Birthright
The Birthright

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for The Birthright
Context Illustration Reading 1/62 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.
Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.
True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.
East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.
On the Island of Annette we could see nothing of interest.
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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.

The Birthright

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/62 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.
Line 2
Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.
Line 3
True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.
Line 4
East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.
Line 5
On the Island of Annette we could see nothing of interest.

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 was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.”

FOUND noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “On the Island of Annette we could see nothing of interest.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.”

TERRIBLE noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

ADVENTURE

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

Agnes

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

all

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

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

ANNETTE

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

any

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

BOX

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

calm

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

dark

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

drearier

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

East

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

ENDING

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

few

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

FOUNDnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

fury

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

gray

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

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

heads

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

interest

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

From this reading On the Island of Annette we could see nothing of interest.

IRON

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

ISLAND

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

islets

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

land

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

lifted

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

made

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

moment

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading On the Island of Annette we could see nothing of interest.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

OURdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

out

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

presented

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

prospects

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

rocky

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

rouse

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

sea

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

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

see

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

sky

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

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

south

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

St

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

sullen

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

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

TERRIBLEnounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

There

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

True

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

visible

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

From this reading East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted their heads from out the dark sea.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea.

waters

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

way

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

WEpronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading True, the waters were calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse themselves to fury.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO OUR ADVENTURE There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.