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 * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
Big
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From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
buried
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From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
ceramic
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From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
children
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From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
country
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From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
Craigs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
down
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From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
end
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From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
Fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
glaciers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
goats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
herd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
horizon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
Humbolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
impassable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
leader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
lowering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
milk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
never-melting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
plateaunounUS /plateau/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
protect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
prowlers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
stockadenounUS /ˈstockade/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
Summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
tinkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came the soft tinkling of ceramic bells as the herd of milk goats came down off the hills.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
unicorns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
western
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * John Humbolt, leader, stood on the wide stockade wall and watched the lowering sun touch the western horizon--far south of where it had set when he was a child.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two children were following and six prowlers walked with them, to protect them from wild unicorns.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Craigs had been impassable with snow for five years and the country at the north end of the plateau, where the iron had been found, had been buried under never-melting snow and growing glaciers for twenty years.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Big Summer was over and now, in the year two hundred, they were already three years into Big Fall.