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 Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
addednounUS /added/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
athwartnounUS /ˈathwart/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
bare-footed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
blot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
blotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
Blyth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
brains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
cluster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
fiercely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
fleecy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
flourished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
forecastlenounUS /ˈforecastle/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
galley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
Give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
hammer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
harm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
hurriedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
large-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
motion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
outcry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
paralysed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
pinioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
reveal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
seized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
short-handled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
skippernounUS /ˈskɪpər/
the captain of a small ship or boat
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
softly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
spatter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
squadrons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
star-lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
stately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
