A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVII
On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook. The long-boat could no longer tow both of them. The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore. He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself). He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).”
in the direction of
From this reading “He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
the two together, not just one
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
not any; not one
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long-boat could no longer tow both of them.
in the direction of
From this reading He sailed away, and toward sunset passed out of sight.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
at the time that
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He took the second mate's boat; six of its crew elected to remain, and two of his own crew came with him (nine in the boat, now, including himself).
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The second mate refused to go, but the chief mate was ready; in fact, he was always ready when there was a man's work to the fore.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading On the 19th the captain called up the quarter-boats and said one would have to go off on its own hook.
