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 was a very sick white man.
accommodated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
ambitiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
black-skinned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
block
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
carved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
circular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
clay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
closely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
clungnounUS /clung/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
desperately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
diameter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
dirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
drooped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
ears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
exceedingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
greasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a very sick white man.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
inches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
lobes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
loin-cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very sick white man.
man-horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
pate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
pick-a-back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
pierced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
rested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
savage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
sick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very sick white man.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The torn ear had been pierced again, but this time not so ambitiously, for the hole accommodated no more than a short clay pipe.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The man-horse was greasy and dirty, and naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin-cloth; but the white man clung to him closely and desperately.
torn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very sick white man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a very sick white man.
weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/
a lack of physical strength
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very sick white man.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
woolly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times, from weakness, his head drooped and rested on the woolly pate.
woolly-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He rode pick-a-back on a woolly-headed, black-skinned savage, the lobes of whose ears had been pierced and stretched until one had torn out, while the other carried a circular block of carved wood three inches in diameter.
