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 light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
afford
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From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
American
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
anxious
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From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
any
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
burned
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From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
business
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
cause
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
continent
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
covering
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
desk
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
interior
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
Jefferson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
large
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
lay
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
Lewis
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From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
lies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
litter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
many
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From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
map
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
Mr
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From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
North
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
office-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
PARTING
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From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
regarding
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
represented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
said
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From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
schoolboy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
served
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From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
Spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
sunrise
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From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
Thomas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
today
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to afford anxious study for two men, these many hours.
unfinished
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From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A light burned until sunrise in the little office-room of Thomas Jefferson.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
Washington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading THE PARTING There were others in Washington who did not sleep that night.
wisdom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Spread upon his desk, covering its litter of unfinished business, lay a large map--a map which today would cause any schoolboy to smile, but which at that time represented the wisdom of the world regarding the interior of the great North American continent.
Yonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yonder it lies, Captain Lewis!" said Mr. Jefferson at length.
