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 By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
authoritative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This makes his style extremely authoritative.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
Collingwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
deckhands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
designer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
education
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
extremely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This makes his style extremely authoritative.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
forgot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
goes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
Harry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This makes his style extremely authoritative.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This makes his style extremely authoritative.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
officer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
paid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
responsibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
scale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
ships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
shipwright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
skill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This makes his style extremely authoritative.
superlatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This makes his style extremely authoritative.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
training
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
vessel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
vessels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
wagesplural nounUS /ˈweɪdʒɪz/
money or a reward earned for work
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They quite forgot the education and skill that goes into the training of an officer, as well as the taking of responsibility.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In this book the crew of a vessel, meaning in this case the deckhands, got it into their heads that the captain and officers of merchant vessels were paid far too much, and that ordinary deckhands ought to be paid on the same scale.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
writer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By Harry Collingwood ________________________________________________________________________ Harry Collingwood is a superlatively good writer of books about the sea because he was himself a working designer of ships, and a shipwright.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In other hands they had been "robbed of fair wages" for hundreds of years.
