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 field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
appalling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
aunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
chaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
cheer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
field-guns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
fired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
firmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
fun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
Gerald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
halloaing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
Horizontales
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
Jack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
jammed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
knocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
los
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
mountain-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
murder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
Off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
polo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
Robinson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
savage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
scrambled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
scrambling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
Sebastian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
shouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
shrieking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
slid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Off he ran to his part of the line.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
triumphant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The field-guns fired once or twice, there was an appalling triumphant shrieking noise behind me—you couldn’t call it a cheer, it was much too savage for that—and Gerald was right.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My old boots were knocking up against each other and against my back, but I jammed Gerald’s polo hat firmly on and slid and scrambled, and ran and slid again.
Viva
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
yelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went across to the left and began halloaing; the officers began shouting, ’_Viva los Horizontales!_’ and before I could say ’Jack Robinson’ the whole of those little brown chaps and I were scrambling down the mountain-side straight for San Sebastian, yelling blue murder.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading My aunt! that was fun, if you like.
