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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 BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
athwartnounUS /ˈathwart/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
barrens
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
beauty
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From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
belt
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
BENSON
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From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
birch
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
Blake
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From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
branches
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From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
clumps
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
country
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
crossing
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
cuts
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From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
desolate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
dotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
dreary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
fading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
forbidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
Fortunately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
GIVES
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From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
gnarled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
Harding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
inhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
lagging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
marsh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
muskeg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
packhorses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
patches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
pick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
poplar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
prairie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
sparsely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
spruce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
spruces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
straggling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
timber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
travellers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
TROUBLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
unsymmetrically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
withered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
