Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
allowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
barren
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
belonging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
birch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
bird-cherry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
bore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
cliff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
fir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
goat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
lap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
laughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
overhung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
Oyvind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
strewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
wander
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on the roof was a little goat belonging to Oyvind; it was kept there that it might not wander away, and Oyvind bore leaves and grass up to it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading His name was Oyvind, and he cried when he was born.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading A barren cliff, not a very high one, though, overhung the house where he was born; fir and birch looked down upon the roof, the bird-cherry strewed flowers over it.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Something remarkable will come of that boy!" said the mother.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But no sooner did he sit up on his mother's lap than he laughed, and when the candle was lit in the evening the room rang with his laughter, but he cried when he was not allowed to reach it.
