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 On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
accident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They succeeded finally by an accident.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They succeeded finally by an accident.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their delays and mischances were endless.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
attempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
attempts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
bend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
bluffs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
bursting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They succeeded finally by an accident.
capsizing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
delaysnounUS /dɪˈleɪz/
plural of “delay” — time during which some action is awaited
From this reading Their delays and mischances were endless.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
endless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their delays and mischances were endless.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They succeeded finally by an accident.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
gain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
healthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
mischances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their delays and mischances were endless.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
nigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
paddles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
poured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
precipitous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
scorenounUS /score/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
strained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They succeeded finally by an accident.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
swift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their delays and mischances were endless.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
tow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
utmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles, and each time, with heads nigh to bursting from the effort, they were played out and swept back.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Their delays and mischances were endless.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At this point, on both banks, were precipitous bluffs, rising out of deep water, and along which they could neither tow nor pole, while they could not gain with the paddles against the current.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one swift bend, around which poured a healthy young rapid, they lost two hours, making a score of attempts and capsizing twice.
