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The Mysterious Island
The Mysterious Island

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for The Mysterious Island
Context Illustration Reading 1/71 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.
At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.
For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.
There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.
The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Mysterious Island

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.
Line 2
At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.
Line 3
For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.
Line 4
There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.
Line 5
The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.”

Either determiner US /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading “There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.”

Sail noun US /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

ascertain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

Cape

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

cave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

circumference

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

Claw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

coast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

companions

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

Cyrus

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

directed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

discovered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

disposal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

engineer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

explored

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.

extremity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

formed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

gaze

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

ground

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

Harding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

horizon

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

innocent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

island

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.

jaguar

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

line

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

marmots

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

miles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

Peninsula

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

politely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

promontory

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

rising

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

sailnounUS /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

sea

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

seen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

Serpentine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

shore

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

side

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

slept

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

south

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

southern

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.

straight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

sunrise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

suspicious

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

telescope

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

There

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was nothing either on the shore, at least, in the straight line of three miles which formed the south side of the promontory, for beyond that, rising ground had the rest of the coast, and even from the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula Claw Cape could not be seen.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The southern coast of the island still remained to be explored.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

two-thirds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

visible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading At sunrise all were on the shore at the extremity of the promontory, and their gaze was directed towards the horizon, of which two-thirds of the circumference were visible.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Cyrus Harding and his companions slept like innocent marmots in the cave which the jaguar had so politely left at their disposal.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.

wreck

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the last time the engineer could ascertain that not a sail nor the wreck of a ship was on the sea, and even with the telescope nothing suspicious could be discovered.