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 From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
acre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
equallynounUS /ˈequally/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above water.
extent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above water.
fancied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above water.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above water.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
height
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
islet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
mast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
miscalculated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
perceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
shoal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
size
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
sloop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above water.
taller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above water.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
thickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness.
towered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above water.
yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very least.
