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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 HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
AlreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
away
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From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
blazed
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
brown
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From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
cloud
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
countryside
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From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
covered
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From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
curious
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From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
dense
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From this reading There was something mysteriously threatening in its dense heaviness.
down
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
dry
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From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
dull
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From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
edges
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From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
end
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From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
fiercely
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
fire
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From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
floating
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From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
grass
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From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
growing
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
heaviness
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From this reading There was something mysteriously threatening in its dense heaviness.
high
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
horses
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From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
HOW
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There was something mysteriously threatening in its dense heaviness.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
like
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From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
mysteriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something mysteriously threatening in its dense heaviness.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
obscure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
property
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
RACE
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From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
raced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
ragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
RODE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
Shannon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something mysteriously threatening in its dense heaviness.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
threatening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something mysteriously threatening in its dense heaviness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
trailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
WALLY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were other men running for their horses, as Wally raced towards Shannon.
western
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW WALLY RODE A RACE Already the cloud was growing in the western sky--so high that it threatened to obscure the sun that still blazed fiercely down.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
wisps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first a dull brown, there was a curious light behind it; at the edges it trailed away into ragged wisps like floating mist.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The news of a grass fire had spread quickly, and every man wanted to be on his own property, for the whole countryside was covered with long, dry grass, and no one could say where a fire might or might not end.
