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 Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
beating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
bosom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
buttoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
Coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly he halted; the pitiful howling of a dog smote his ear.
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly he halted; the pitiful howling of a dog smote his ear.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart was leaping, and with it his feet were keeping pace.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
foe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
giant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
graspnounUS /ɡræsp/
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
halted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly he halted; the pitiful howling of a dog smote his ear.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart was leaping, and with it his feet were keeping pace.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
homeward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
howling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly he halted; the pitiful howling of a dog smote his ear.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
instincts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His heart was leaping, and with it his feet were keeping pace.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart was leaping, and with it his feet were keeping pace.
leapingnounUS /ˈleaping/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His heart was leaping, and with it his feet were keeping pace.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
mushy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
opposition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
pace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart was leaping, and with it his feet were keeping pace.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
patient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
pitiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly he halted; the pitiful howling of a dog smote his ear.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
rain-soaked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
returning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
smote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly he halted; the pitiful howling of a dog smote his ear.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
struggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly he halted; the pitiful howling of a dog smote his ear.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
treading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His heart was leaping, and with it his feet were keeping pace.
wet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Coming, he had felt the opposition of the wind, the rain and the mushy sand, but returning he found neither in the wind nor in the sand a foe to progress.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With rain-soaked sand the road was heavy, and to walk was to struggle, but not so to the giant treading his way homeward.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand he held the letter; and feeling it begin to cool in his grasp, he realized that the rain was beating upon it; so, holding in common with all patient men the instincts of a woman, he put the wet paper in his bosom and tightly buttoned his coat about it.
