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 It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
agent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
anxiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
BACK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
Bay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
Benson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
Blake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
bluffadjectiveUS /blʌf/
direct and plain-spoken in manner, sometimes seeming rough
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
confessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
cordwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
dangerous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
dreary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
evenings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the long evenings, Robertson told them grim stories of the North.
factory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
fortnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
freshening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
fuel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
gale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
grim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the long evenings, Robertson told them grim stories of the North.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
half-breeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
hauling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
Hudson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
hurled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
icy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the long evenings, Robertson told them grim stories of the North.
lounging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
narrowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
neighboring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
NonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
North
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the long evenings, Robertson told them grim stories of the North.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
red-hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
roar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
Robertson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the long evenings, Robertson told them grim stories of the North.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading None of the half-breeds could reach the factory, and Robertson confessed to some anxiety about them.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was little that could be done, and they spent the dreary days lounging about the red-hot stove, and listening to the roar of the gale.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the long evenings, Robertson told them grim stories of the North.
TRAIL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
venture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was dangerous to venture as far as a neighboring bluff, where fuel had been cut; Benson and the agent, who were hauling cordwood home, narrowly escaped from death one evening in the suddenly freshening storm.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BACK TRAIL Blake and his friends spent three weeks at the Hudson Bay post, and throughout the first fortnight an icy wind hurled the snow against the quivering building.
