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 House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
alcove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
allowed
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From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
beavers
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From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
Beth
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From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
boarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
box
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From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
Building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
children
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From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
cords
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From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
crossways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
floors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
Gordons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
helped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
indefatigables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
inspired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
lengthways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
piano
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
piled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
piling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
scheme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
sticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
undertakingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/
a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help.
yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking.
