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 The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
abeamadverbUS /əˈbiːm/
at right angles to a ship’s side
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
AFTERNOONnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading AN AFTERNOON ASHORE.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AFTERNOON ASHORE.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
ASHORE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFTERNOON ASHORE.
beach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
breeze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
combers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
drove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
freshened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
further
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
gripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
HalfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
haul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
helm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
lowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
mainsail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
peak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
slipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
sloop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
thoughtful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
Vane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Half the day had slipped by, when the breeze freshened further and the sun broke through.
wildly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
windwardnounUS /ˈwindward/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sloop was then rolling wildly as she drove along with the peak of her mainsail lowered before a big following sea.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This would bring the combers upon her quarter, or, worse still, abeam.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Vane looked thoughtful as he gripped the helm, because a head ran out from the beach he was following three or four miles way, and he would have to haul the boat up to windward to get round it.
