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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
ALARM-POST
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From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
bird-singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
bloomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
bowed
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From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
brookside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
cedars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
corn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
corn-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
DENNIS
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From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
Dennis's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
entrusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
ferny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
flamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
forests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
forgot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
latter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
machine-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
motion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
NIMBLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
orchid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
orioles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
PETER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
powder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
pumpkin-seeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
rare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
stuck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he stuck pumpkin-seeds into corn-hills, he did so with a machine-like motion.
tavern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He watched Dennis after their return as the latter came out of the alarm-post over the way and went to the tavern or the war office.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Dennis for a time merely bowed to him and passed him by, day by day, when on duty; and the corn grew, and the orioles flamed in the air.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
wintergreens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had listened to the singing of the birds in the cedars, but he forgot the bird-singing now; though he loved rare wild flowers, a white orchid bloomed among the wintergreens by the ferny brookside, but he did not see it now; the sky, the forests, and everything seemed to have vanished away.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading PETER NIMBLE AND DENNIS IN THE ALARM-POST Peter, after being entrusted with Dennis’s secret of the hidden powder, walked about like one whose head was in the air.