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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 So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Oyvind gazed at the cliff, the trees, the sea, and the sky, and he had never truly seen them before.
away
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From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
beasts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Oyvind gazed at the cliff, the trees, the sea, and the sky, and he had never truly seen them before.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
brook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
came
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From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
cliff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
clouds
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From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
content
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
door-step
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oyvind gazed at the cliff, the trees, the sea, and the sky, and he had never truly seen them before.
goat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Oyvind gazed at the cliff, the trees, the sea, and the sky, and he had never truly seen them before.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
Oyvind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oyvind gazed at the cliff, the trees, the sea, and the sky, and he had never truly seen them before.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
tethered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Oyvind gazed at the cliff, the trees, the sea, and the sky, and he had never truly seen them before.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat came out just then, and stretched itself out on the door-step, in the sunshine.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oyvind gazed at the cliff, the trees, the sea, and the sky, and he had never truly seen them before.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mother came and sat down beside him; he asked her to tell him stories about things that were far away, for now the goat was no longer enough to content him.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading So his mother told him how once everything could talk: the mountain talked to the brook, and the brook to the river, and the river to the sea, and the sea to the sky; he asked if the sky did not talk to any one, and was told that it talked to the clouds, and the clouds to the trees, the trees to the grass, the grass to the flies, the flies to the beasts, and the beasts to the children, but the children to grown people; and thus it continued until it had gone round in a circle, and neither knew where it had begun.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The goat was tethered near the house, but Oyvind wandered off, with his eyes fixed on the cliff.
