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 LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
berries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quail was the Indian's true bird.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
caused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
elected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
flock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
fly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
Indian's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quail was the Indian's true bird.
kingdom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
leader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
LITTLEnounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
Metacomet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
METACOMET'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
mottled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
partridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
piping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
QUAIL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
scatter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Did the flock not sit around in a circle at night on the brown and mottled leaves, their own color, so that each one could fly away rapidly, and _scatter_, and did they not all come back again after such a flight, at the call of their leader, or little brown chief?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quail was the Indian's true bird.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The quail was the Indian's true bird.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Who elected the quail that called the flock a leader, and how did he know that he was to act as leader in his kingdom?
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE METACOMET'S QUAIL One morning Little Metacomet heard a quail piping in the open wood, where were rocks and partridge berries.
woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That music of the woods always caused him to turn his quick ear.
