adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
breakersnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
CHILDnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children had never returned to the old place.
civilisationnoun
the social process whereby societies achieve an advanced stage of development and organization
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
concernedadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrnd/
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
criedverbUS /kraɪd/
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
exploreverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːr/
inquire into
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
FivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
HALFadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
helpverbUS /help/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
islandnounUS /ˈaɪlənd/
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
lagoonnounUS /ləˈɡuːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
of an obscure nature
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The children had never returned to the old place.
occurrencenounUS /əˈkɜːrəns/
an event that happens
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The children had never returned to the old place.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The children had never returned to the old place.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The children had never returned to the old place.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
SAVAGEadjectiveUS /ˈsævədʒ/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
sea-gulls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
seasonsnounUS /ˈsiːzənz/
plural of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
shipsnounUS /ʃɪps/
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
spellverbUS /spel/
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
thunderedverbUS /ˈθʌndərd/
past form of “thunder” — move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The children had never returned to the old place.
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading HALF CHILD—HALF SAVAGE Five rainy seasons had passed and gone since the tragic occurrence on the reef.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
woodsnounUS /wʊdz/
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They had kept entirely to the back of the island and the woods—the lagoon, down to a certain point, and the reef; a wide enough and beautiful enough world, but a hopeless world, as far as help from civilisation was concerned.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For, of the few ships that touched at the island in the course of years, how many would explore the lagoon or woods?
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Five long years the breakers had thundered, and the sea-gulls had cried round the figure whose spell had drawn a mysterious barrier across the lagoon.
