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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
arose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain mild interest arose in the observer’s mind.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain mild interest arose in the observer’s mind.
CITY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
civilization
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
contemplatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
Cumberlands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
dawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
dominated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
Forks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
HILL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
identified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
idly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
immemorial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain mild interest arose in the observer’s mind.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
Kentucky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
lingered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
mild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain mild interest arose in the observer’s mind.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A certain mild interest arose in the observer’s mind.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
observer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain mild interest arose in the observer’s mind.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
pockets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
roads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/
a person, without saying who
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
stoop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
summit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There seemed to be someone up there, so far away that he could not be identified.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE CITY ON THE HILL IN THE Cumberlands, at the Forks of the Kentucky life went on as it had from time immemorial.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were few more houses than there had been a hundred years ago, no more roads, little more of civilization.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But one morning, while yet the dawn was young, a man standing contemplatively on the stoop of his house, hands in pockets, looked idly up to the summit of the tall hill, which dominated the little town, and the gaze of this man lingered.
