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 To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
acts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
America
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
animals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
beloved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
Billy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
blown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
bomb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
brave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
bravery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
Button
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
cared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
France
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
glorious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
Goddess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
harbor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
leg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
LibertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
performing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
returning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
sailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
scars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
ships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
States
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
Stubby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
tip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
troop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
troops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
United
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
War
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading To be sure, Billy had lost the tip of his tail when he was blown up by a bomb, but that did not matter.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
Whiskers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had gone over on one of the troop ships and it just so happened that they returned on the same ship and with the same Captain and crew.
wounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were returning home covered with scars and wounds received while performing acts of bravery, but what cared they for scars and wounds so long as they had not lost an eye, ear or leg, and were feeling perfectly well and strong?
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Whiskers, Stubby and Button sailed by the Goddess of Liberty and entered New York harbor after being in France ever since our troops entered the War.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You never saw three such happy animals as these were to be able once again to lay eyes on their beloved country,--the United States of America, that glorious country of the free and the brave.
