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The Rover
The Rover

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for The Rover
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”
“We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.
“After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”
“And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.
“Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?”
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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 Rover

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”
Line 2
“We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.
Line 3
“After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”
Line 4
“And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.
Line 5
“Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?”

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading ““After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.””

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading ““After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.””

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading ““We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading ““We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading ““Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?””

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading ““Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.””

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading ““We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?””

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.””

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.””

All words in this reading · 70

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 “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

ahead

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

all

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

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

Amelia

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

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

backstays

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

From this reading “Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

dancing

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

dark

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

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

early

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

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

elbow

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

eyes

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

hour

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

keeping

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

lanyard

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

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

leaned

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

less

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

lieutenant

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

lightly

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

made

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

meant

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

Mediterranean

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

night

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

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

off

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

properly

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

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

race

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

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

rail

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

rub

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

said

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?”

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

sir

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

speaking

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

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

speaking-trumpet

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

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

speck

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

swinging

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

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?”

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

to-day

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

From this reading “And it will be dark early to-day,” said the first lieutenant, swinging the speaking-trumpet by its lanyard.

Vincent

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

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

waves

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After all,” he went on, “properly speaking, it is a race between the _Amelia_ and the night.”

white

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “We will have him in less than an hour,” said Captain Vincent, and made as if he meant to rub his hands, but suddenly leaned his elbow on the rail.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”

yards

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

From this reading “Shall we take the yards off the backstays, sir?”

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes, sir,” said the lieutenant, keeping his eyes on the white speck ahead, dancing lightly on the short Mediterranean waves, “he is keeping off the wind.”