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 Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
AgainnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
Arctic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
BecauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.
boomingnounUS /ˈbooming/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
brewing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
brumal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
Buck
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From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
Chafing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
chain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
Clara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.
coats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
companies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
custom's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
Diego
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
dogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
ferine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
frost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
furry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
groping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
leap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
longingsnounUS /ˈlɔːŋɪŋz/
plural of “longing” — prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
metal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
muscle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
muscles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
nomadic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
Northland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
Old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
protect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
Puget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
rushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
Santa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
Sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
steamship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
strain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
sun-kissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
tide-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
toil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
transportation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
Valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck lived at a big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley.
Wakens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Old longings nomadic leap, Chafing at custom’s chain; Again from its brumal sleep Wakens the ferine strain.”
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland.
