adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
ain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Mattie was there alone, as he had pictured her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
burstsnounUS /bɜːrsts/
plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
Ethan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
fancying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/
the act of giving
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
greys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
hearingnounUS /ˈhiːrɪŋ/
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mattie was there alone, as he had pictured her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
Jotham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
Mattie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mattie was there alone, as he had pictured her.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
ministrationsnounUS /ˌmɪnəˈstreɪʃənz/
plural of “ministration” — assistance in time of difficulty
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
OnceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
overtakeverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪk/
catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
pairnounUS /per/
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
perfunctoryadjectiveUS /pərˈfʌŋktəri/
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
picturedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərd/
seen in the mind as a mental image
From this reading Mattie was there alone, as he had pictured her.
ponderousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərəs/
slow and laborious because of weight
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
pushedverbUS /pʊʃt/
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
setsnounUS /sets/
plural of “set” — a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
sightnounUS /saɪt/
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
sleetnounUS /sliːt/
partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow)
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
sleigh-bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
sorreladjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrəl/
of a light brownish color
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
steadyverbUS /ˈstedi/
make steady
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
storenounUS /stɔːr/
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Mattie was there alone, as he had pictured her.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
twiceadverbUS /twaɪs/
two times
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
urgedverbUS /ɜːrdʒd/
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once or twice, hearing sleigh-bells, Ethan turned his head, fancying that Zeena and Jotham might overtake him; but the old sorrel was not in sight, and he set his face against the rain and urged on his ponderous pair.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The barn was empty when the horses turned into it and, after giving them the most perfunctory ministrations they had ever received from him, he strode up to the house and pushed open the kitchen door.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The fitful bursts of sleet had changed into a steady rain and the horses had heavy work even without a load behind them.
Zeena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hope Zeena ain’t broken anything she sets store by,” she called after him as he turned the greys toward home.
