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 "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
all
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From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
BALLAD
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From this reading BALLAD.
bath
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From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
Bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
Bessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
bonnie
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From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
bower
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From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
boy
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From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
brae
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From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
chinks
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From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
clothes
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From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
curled
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From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
digged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
down
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From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
finding
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From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
gathered
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From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
giving
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From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
Grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
guelder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
hovel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
how
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From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
kneeling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
knew
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From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
lasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
Mary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
much
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From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
O
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
o'er
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
pool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
prayer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
rashes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
recollections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
rude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
showing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
slept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
soap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
soundly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
Steadfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
theek'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
Toby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
twa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
wash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
wax-berried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When he had gathered his recollections he knew how much there was to be done.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
wi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Steadfast slept soundly on the straw with Toby curled up by his side till the morning light was finding its way in through all the chinks of his rude little hovel.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He sprang to his feet, showing himself still his good mother's own boy by kneeling down to his short prayer, then taking off the clothes in which he had slept, and giving himself a good bath in the pool under the bush of wax-berried guelder rose, and as good a wash as he could without soap.
yonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses-- They digged a bower on yonder brae, And theek'd it o'er wi' rashes."
