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 It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
aloft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
cabin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
fifteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
freezing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
gale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
icy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
Mahoney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
mizzen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
mizzenmast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
O'Brien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
perch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
poop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
preferred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
rail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
shrouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
sighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
strove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the boy, at three in the afternoon, who called down that he had sighted a sail.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
turns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
vessel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The icy gale was too much for them, and they preferred the shelter of the cabin.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In vain Mahoney strove to get the men to take turns in watching aloft from the mizzenmast for any chance vessel.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This did bring them from the cabin, and they crowded the poop rail and weather mizzen shrouds as they watched the strange ship.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading O'Brien, the boy, who was only fifteen, took turns with Mahoney on the freezing perch.
