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 Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
achieving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
ambulances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
artillery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
automobiles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
boss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
caissons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
captured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
chugging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
competing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
crawl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
cycle-units
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
darted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
dire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
ditches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
dodging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
enemy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
escapes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
excuses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
exulting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
French
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
hair's-breadth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
HIGGINS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
horse-wagons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
HUN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
Irish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
JIMMIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
leaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
machines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
MEETS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
motor-cyclist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
motor-cyclists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
mule-wagons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
normal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
ploughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
push
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
race
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
raced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
red-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
stalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
tore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
trucks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
vaulted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
vehicles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading JIMMIE HIGGINS MEETS THE HUN I The six motor-cyclists leaped on to their machines and went chugging down the road.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They tore along, dodging in and out between trucks and automobiles, ambulances and artillery caissons, horse-wagons and mule-wagons, achieving again and again those hair's-breadth escapes which are the joy in life of every normal motor-cyclist.
width
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
wiped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course they raced one another; all motor-cyclists always race--and here was the best of all possible excuses, the French army in dire need of them, several of its precious cycle-units wiped out or captured!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading So it happened that Jimmie found himself competing with his red-headed Irish enemy; there was a narrow opening between two stalled vehicles, and Jimmie made it by the width of his hand, and vaulted on to his machine and darted away, free and exulting--his own boss!
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now and then, when things were too slow, they would try a crawl in the ditches, or push their machines over the ploughed fields.
