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 Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was uncommon bright, the duke was, and he soon struck it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
ciphernounUS /ˈsaɪ.fər/
A secret or disguised way of writing; a code used to conceal ancient secrets.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
duke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
king
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
mighty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
NextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
nigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
plan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
roped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
runaway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was uncommon bright, the duke was, and he soon struck it.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was uncommon bright, the duke was, and he soon struck it.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
tie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
tiresome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
tow-head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
towns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
uncommon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was uncommon bright, the duke was, and he soon struck it.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the duke said it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get around it.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
wigwam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
willow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow tow-head out in the middle, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You see, when we left him all alone we had to tie him, because if anybody happened on to him all by himself and not tied it wouldn’t look much like he was a runaway nigger, you know.
