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The Brown Mouse
The Brown Mouse

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for The Brown Mouse
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Brown Mouse

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.
Line 2
The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.
Line 3
The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.
Line 4
A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.
Line 5
He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.”

Running noun US /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.”

Whipped noun US /ˈwhipped/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.”

All words in this reading · 104

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 A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

barefooted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

black

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

boys

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

clean-washed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

climbers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

corn-fields

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

cross

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

cultivators

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

day's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

drenched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

electricity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

evidence

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

fields

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

filled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

fit

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

girls

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

go

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

home

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

horse

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

indeed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

July

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

lashing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

legs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

limbs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

line

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

lithe

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

mud

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

nature

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

once

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

plentifully

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

pole

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

post

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

rather

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

repairs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

rich

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

road

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

roadside

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

rolled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

runningnounUS /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

school

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

seepage

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

sensible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

SHOOTER

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

soil

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

squeezing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

storm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

sun

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

swales

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

telephone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

thrilling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

tied

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

tillage

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

toes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

too

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

tramped

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

trees

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

TROUBLE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

trousers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The cultivators left the corn-fields until the next day's sun and a night of seepage might once more fit the black soil for tillage.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

walked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He had tied his horse to a post up the road, and was running out the trouble on the line, which was plentifully in evidence just then.

water

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

whippednounUS /ˈwhipped/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

wires

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.

wished

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little boys rolled up their trousers and tramped home from school with the rich mud squeezing up between their toes, thrilling with the electricity of clean-washed nature, and the little girls rather wished they could go barefooted, too, as, indeed, some of the more sensible did.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A TROUBLE SHOOTER A sudden July storm had drenched the fields and filled the swales with water.

young

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A lithe young man with climbers on his legs walked up a telephone pole by the roadside to make some repairs to the wires, which had been whipped into a "cross" by the wind of the storm and the lashing of the limbs of the roadside trees.