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 It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
Abraham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
aisles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
altars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
attended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
Baptist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
benches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was called simply the "meeting-house."
cathedral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
choirs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
columns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
conducted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
forest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PARABLE PREACHES IN THE WILDERNESS.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was called simply the "meeting-house."
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
Lincoln
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
logs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
meeting-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was called simply the "meeting-house."
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
PARABLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARABLE PREACHES IN THE WILDERNESS.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
preachers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
PREACHES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARABLE PREACHES IN THE WILDERNESS.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
rude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
sanctuarynounUS /ˈsæŋk.tʃu.er.i/
A place of safety, refuge, or holy retreat within the academy.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
school-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was called simply the "meeting-house."
skillful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PARABLE PREACHES IN THE WILDERNESS.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
timber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading It stood in the timber, whose columns and aisles opened around it like a vast cathedral, where the rocks were altars and the birds were choirs.
WILDERNESSnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
a wild area where few people live
From this reading THE PARABLE PREACHES IN THE WILDERNESS.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was built of rude logs, and had hard benches, but the plain people had done more skillful work on this forest sanctuary than on the school-house.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house in which young Abraham Lincoln attended church was simple and curious, as were the old forest Baptist preachers who conducted the services there.
