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 HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
ahead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
beautiful
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From this reading It was a beautiful day.
brightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
burying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
clucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
corn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
crab-grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
curling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a beautiful day.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
directions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
HEpronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
inches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a beautiful day.
jangling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
jerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
lunged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
mellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
near-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
negro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
onward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
parallel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
ploughing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
ploughshare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
polished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
purslane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
robust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
rows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
shavings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
shining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
soil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
sped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
stalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
succulent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
tenacious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
trace-chains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
uprooting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
veil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was shining brightly, but the atmosphere had dropped a dim veil over the near-by mountain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a jangling jerk of the trace-chains the animal lunged ahead: the polished ploughshare cut into the mellow soil and sped onward, curling the gray earth like shavings, and uprooting and burying the tenacious crab-grass and succulent purslane.
wound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
wrist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negro placed the point of his ploughshare a few inches from the first stalk of corn, wound the line around his wrist, and clucked to his horse.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE young man stood in the field road giving directions to a robust negro who was ploughing the corn, which, in parallel rows, stretched on to the main road a quarter of a mile distant.
