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 A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
coast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
dirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
drift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
drifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
east
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
ebbnounUS /ɛb/
the movement of the tide away from the land
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
Fecamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
fishing-lugger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
flapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
fleecy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
fog-banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
fortunate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
French
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
gauze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
husky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
idly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
lie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
materials
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
mournful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now he had that mournful satisfaction which is the special privilege of the pessimistic.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
nightfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
northward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now he had that mournful satisfaction which is the special privilege of the pessimistic.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
pessimistic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now he had that mournful satisfaction which is the special privilege of the pessimistic.
pest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
predicted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
privilege
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now he had that mournful satisfaction which is the special privilege of the pessimistic.
rendered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
sailor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
sails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now he had that mournful satisfaction which is the special privilege of the pessimistic.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
shouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
spars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
special
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now he had that mournful satisfaction which is the special privilege of the pessimistic.
sunny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
Thames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
veil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
westwardadverbUS /ˈwɛstwərd/
toward the west
From this reading These fog-banks, the pest of the east coast, are the materials that form the light fleecy clouds which drift westward in sunny weather like a gauze veil across the face of the sky.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And now he had that mournful satisfaction which is the special privilege of the pessimistic.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A large French fishing-lugger was drifting northward on the ebb tide with its sails flapping idly against the spars.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been a fine morning, and the Captain, a man from Fecamp, where every boy that is born is born a sailor, had been fortunate in working his way in clear weather across the banks that lie northward of the Thames.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had predicted all along in a voice rendered husky by much shouting in dirty weather that the fog-banks would be drifting in from the sea before nightfall.
