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 Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
ample
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From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
Bar
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From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
barns
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From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
Barstairs
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From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
Batt
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From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
bred
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From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
Bull
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From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
bunkhouses
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From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
Camp
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From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
cattle
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From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
Chinaman
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From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
completely
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From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
corralled
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From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
country
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From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
employed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
exodus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
feed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
fields
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From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
foothill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
foothills
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From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
hardy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
Leeson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
mavericks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
plague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
previously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
purebred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
Q
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
ranch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
ranches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
range
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
regions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
rife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
roamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
rustling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
shift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
stock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
stricken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
stuff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
tales
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From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The foothill ranch was completely deserted, and the Bull was left alone to look after his several thousand head of cattle.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That winter the cattle in the foothills roamed the range like mavericks, rustling for their water and feed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the plague reached the country regions, there was a general exodus from the ranches, for tales were rife of stricken men corralled like cattle in bunkhouses and barns and left to shift for themselves.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading But even then they were better off than the purebred stock at Barstairs, being hardy stuff bred to the range and the open fields, where they found ample feed.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of the thirty or forty men previously employed at the Bar Q, only two remained that winter--a Chinaman and Batt Leeson at the Bull Camp.
