adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading As for the lug-sail belonging to the dinghy, it was never seen again.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading As for the lug-sail belonging to the dinghy, it was never seen again.
BitnounUS /bɪt/
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
boxnounUS /bɑːks/
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
breadfruitnounUS /ˈbredfruːt/
native to Pacific islands and having edible fruit with a texture like bread
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
butcher'snounUS /ˈbʊtʃərz/
possessive form of “butcher” — a retailer of meat
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/
taking care or paying attention
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
centrenounUS /ˈsentər/
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
cocoa-nut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
companynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
cookedadjectiveUS /kʊkt/
having been prepared for eating by the application of heat
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
coralnounUS /ˈkɔːrəl/
a variable color averaging a deep pink
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
cyclonenounUS /sɪˈkloʊn/
(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
DicknounUS /dɪk/
someone who is a detective
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
dinghynounUS /ˈdɪŋi/
a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
From this reading As for the lug-sail belonging to the dinghy, it was never seen again.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/
the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
fishhooks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
flannelnounUS /ˈflænəl/
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for the lug-sail belonging to the dinghy, it was never seen again.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
gaily-bandaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
jammedadjectiveUS /dʒæmd/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
knifenounUS /naɪf/
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
legnounUS /leɡ/
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
lug-sail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As for the lug-sail belonging to the dinghy, it was never seen again.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading As for the lug-sail belonging to the dinghy, it was never seen again.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
pickedverbUS /pɪkt/
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
piecenounUS /piːs/
a separate part of a whole
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
propertynounUS /ˈprɑːpərti/
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
remainsnounUS /rɪˈmeɪnz/
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
ruinedadjectiveUS /ˈruːənd/
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
scatteredadjectiveUS /ˈskætərd/
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As for the lug-sail belonging to the dinghy, it was never seen again.
Shenandoah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
slenderadjectiveUS /ˈslendər/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
stay-sail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
STRICKENadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪkən/
grievously affected especially by disease
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Bit by bit they began to recover something of their scattered property.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
trunknounUS /trʌŋk/
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The box of fishhooks had been jammed into the centre of a cooked breadfruit, both having been picked up by the fingers of the wind and hurled against the same tree; and the stay-sail of the _Shenandoah_ was out on the reef, with a piece of coral carefully placed on it as if to keep it down.
WOODSnounUS /wʊdz/
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE STRICKEN WOODS At first they thought they were ruined; then Dick, searching, found the old saw under a tree, and the butcher’s knife near it, as though the knife and saw had been trying to escape in company and had failed.
wrappedadjectiveUS /ræpt/
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading The remains of the flannel had been taken by the cyclone and wrapped round and round a slender cocoa-nut tree, till the trunk looked like a gaily-bandaged leg.
