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 THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
advertising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
alongside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
Bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
build
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
buy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
derrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
derricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
discovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
Eli's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
equal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
estate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
farther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
FirstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
holier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
holies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
lands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
lease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
leasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
lined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
National
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
oil-derrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
Paradise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
paved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
placards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
Presently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
purchaser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
sale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
sell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
selling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
shacks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
SomebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
STRIKE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
structure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
subdividers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
tents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Presently you saw derricks—one right alongside Eli’s new church, and another by that holier of holies, the First National Bank.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
tract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody would buy a lot and build a house and move in, and the following week they would sell the house, and the purchaser would move it away, and start an oil-derrick.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The road was paved, all the way up from the valley, and lined with placards big and little, oil lands for sale or lease, and shacks and tents in which the selling and leasing was done.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many never got any farther than the derrick—for subdividers of real estate had made the discovery that all the advertising in the world was not equal to the presence of one such structure on the tract.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE STRIKE I A year had passed, and you would hardly have known the town of Paradise.
