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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 The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
all
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner.
any
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
arose
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
Aunt
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From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
bed
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From this reading Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner.
beds
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From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
big
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From this reading Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner.
build
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From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
building
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
called
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
carried
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From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
case
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
cellar
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
chairs
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From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
contained
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From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
cookstove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
corner
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From this reading Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
crush
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
cupboard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
CyclonenounUS /sɪˈkloʊn/
(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
dishes
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From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
Dorothy
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From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
dug
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
Em
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
enough
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
family
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
farmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
farmer's
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From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
four
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From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
garret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
go
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From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
Henry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
Kansas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner.
lived
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From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
lumber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
made
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From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
midst
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From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
mighty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
prairies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
rusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
wagon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cookstove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.
whirlwinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no garret at all, and no cellar—except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Cyclone Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.
