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 Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
basket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
burial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
Carson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
chewing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
coffee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
continuing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
counted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
counter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
cross-roads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
Darley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
Dilk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
Dilk's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
Dwight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
eggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
exchange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
farmers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
interment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
market
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
nail-kegs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
Old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
Purdy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
recent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
Several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
shorter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
soap-boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
Springtown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
sticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
T
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
tobacconounUS /ˈtobacco/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
tongues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
value
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
whittling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several other farmers were seated about the store on nail-kegs and soap-boxes whittling sticks and chewing tobacco, their slow tongues busy with the details of the recent death and interment.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
Willis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading T was the day following the burial of the body of Dan Willis.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Old man Purdy, whom Carson had gone to see, was at Dilk's cross-roads store with a basket of fresh eggs, which he had brought to exchange for their market value in coffee.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Old Purdy was speaking of how the children had discovered the body, and remarked that it would have been found several hours sooner if Carson Dwight had only taken the shorter road that day to Springtown instead of the longer.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, Dwight come from Darley, didn't he?” asked Dilk, as he wrote down the number of eggs he had counted on a piece of brown paper on the counter and waited before continuing.
