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 GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
appeared
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From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
buffalo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
cattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
COLD
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From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
cynical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
defenceless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
Dotting
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From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
dugout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
earliest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
east
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From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
established
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
extending
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From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
Fences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
GREATnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
hay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
homes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
mocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
plains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
prairie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
railway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
range
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
scattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
separated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
shacks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
sods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
squat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
stacks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet each building, squat or tall, small or less small, was none the less a home.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
trusting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
unthreatening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
useful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fences and fields appeared, and low stacks of hay and straw here and there stood up above the vast gray surface of the old buffalo and cattle range.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dotting a stretch of country thirty miles on either side of the railway, and extending as far to the east and west along its line, there were scattered hundreds of homes, though often these were separated one from the other by many miles of open prairie.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE GREAT COLD The land lay trusting and defenceless under a cynical sky, which was unthreatening but mocking.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Some of these houses were board "shacks," while others were of sods, and yet others, these among the earliest established on the plains, the useful dugout, half above and half beneath the ground.
