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 In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
athwartnounUS /ˈathwart/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
barrens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
beauty
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From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
belt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
Benson
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From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
birch
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
Blake
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From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
branches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
clumps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
compelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
crossing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
cuts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
Darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
desolate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
dotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
dreary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
fading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
forbidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
gnarled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
Harding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
inhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
lagging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
marshy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
muskeg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
packhorses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
patches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
pick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
poplar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
prairie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
scattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
settling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
sparsely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
spruces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
straggling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
timber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
TROUBLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
unsymmetrically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TROUBLE Darkness was settling down over the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
wearily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Blake and Harding found no beauty in the scene as they wearily led two packhorses through the thin, scattered trees, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
withered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited; and now they were compelled to pick their way among fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marshy and their feet sank among the withered needles.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the fading light the straggling wood wore a dreary, forbidding look.
