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 Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
acquaintance
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From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As there was another James in his family, he was called Jim-Polk Gaither.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As there was another James in his family, he was called Jim-Polk Gaither.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
bed
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From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
book-learning
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From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
boy
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From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
called
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From this reading As there was another James in his family, he was called Jim-Polk Gaither.
companion
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From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
copy-book
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From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
deal
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From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
doing
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From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
family
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From this reading As there was another James in his family, he was called Jim-Polk Gaither.
fields
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From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
fifteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
friendly
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From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
Gaither
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
grew
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From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
intelligent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
Jim-Polk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As there was another James in his family, he was called Jim-Polk Gaither.
Joe
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From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
K
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From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
keeps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
Maxwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
Nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
pause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
picked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
Polk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
pride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
rains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As there was another James in his family, he was called Jim-Polk Gaither.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
using
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
Walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/
in or to any place at all
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
wholesome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Gaither boy grew to be very friendly with Joe Maxwell, and he turned out to be a very pleasant companion.
woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
wrestling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walking along through the fields or woods, he would pause wherever the rains had washed the sand together, and write his name in full in letters that seemed to be wrestling with each other--“James K. Polk Gaither.”
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could read a little, and he could write his name, which he took great pride in doing, using a stick for a pen and a bed of sand for a copy-book.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
younger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was fifteen years old, but looked younger, and although he had no book-learning, he was very intelligent, having picked up a great deal of the wholesome knowledge that Nature keeps in store for those who make her acquaintance.
