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 Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
belts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
bits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
dyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
dykes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
Ettrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
fences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
gnarled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
haze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
heathnounUS /hiːθ/
open uncultivated land covered with low plants
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
Heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
hoarse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
moor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
moss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
patches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
rank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
rattled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
rusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
sheep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
StillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
strike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
struggling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
summit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
thorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Heavy rain met him on the summit, and after struggling on for a time he took shelter behind a broken dyke.
tracks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
twigs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
twined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
velvety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
winding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
wire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a gnarled thorn bush rattled its dry twigs in the wind; there were bits of dykes and rusty wire fences, but he saw no path except the winding tracks the sheep had made.
Wiry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
withered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wiry grass twined about his feet, he sank in velvety green patches where the moss grew rank, and walking was harder when he crossed belts of withered heath.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain got worse and the moor was lost in mist a quarter of a mile away, but he heard a faint, hoarse sound in the haze below.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Still Ettrick water was not far off, and he would strike it if he held south.
