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A Certain Rich Man
A Certain Rich Man

Chapter X

Cover illustration for A Certain Rich Man
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.
For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.
They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.
For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.
He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Certain Rich Man

Chapter X

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.
Line 2
For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.
Line 3
They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.
Line 4
For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.
Line 5
He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.”

Amount verb US /əˈmaʊnt/

to reach or total a particular quantity or value

From this reading “He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.”

Per preposition US /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading “He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.”

All words in this reading · 111

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1874

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

acres

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/

to reach or total a particular quantity or value

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

bank

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

Barclay

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

Belt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

borrow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

cent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

cheered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

Colorado

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

Company

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

cropped

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

debt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

dollar

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

dollars

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

Eastern

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

eaten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

expected

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

fall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

farmers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

fields

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

fifty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

figured

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

find

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

Golden

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

grasshoppers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

guaranteed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

harvesting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

hoppers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

hundred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

interest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

invaded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

John

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

July

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

knew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

known

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

larva

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

memorable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

Missouri

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

money

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

needed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

nursery

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

once

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

owed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

paper

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

pay

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

pencil

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

perprepositionUS /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

plains

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

ploughed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

rose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

show

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

six

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

stockholders

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

thousand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading For he knew that he owed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Eastern stockholders of the company, and he had not a dollar to show for it.

tried

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

twenty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

twenty-fifth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The twenty-fifth of July, 1874, is a memorable day in the life of John Barclay.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

Valley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

way

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

wheat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading For on that day the grasshoppers which had eaten off the twenty thousand acres of wheat in the fields of the Golden Belt Wheat Company, as though it had been cropped, rose and left the Missouri Valley.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had expected to borrow the money needed for the harvesting in the fall, and over and over and over again he had figured with paper and pencil the amount of his debt, and again and again he had tried to find some way to pay even the interest on the debt at six per cent, which the bank had guaranteed.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.

year

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They will never come back, for they are ploughed under in the larva every year by the Colorado farmers who have invaded the plains where once the "hoppers" had their nursery; but all this, even if he had known it, would not have cheered up John that day.