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aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
afford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
altogether
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From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
always
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From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
angry
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From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
avoid
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From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
away
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From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
believed
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From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
best
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From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
boy
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From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
carried
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From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
cattle
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From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
didn't
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From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
eager
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From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
expenses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
fact
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From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
fighting
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From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
given
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From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
herd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
herdsman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
how
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From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
humor
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From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
information
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
magnanimous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
Ned
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From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
plea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
protect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
reducing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
settlement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
stock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the boy didn’t want to let Zeke know how mean his uncle was, and so he said nothing about his plans.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading George found his herdsman eager for news from the settlement, as he always was, but he had nothing to tell him that was very interesting.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading They never could be carried out while Zeke was there to protect his stock, and George could afford to be magnanimous.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He could have given him some information that would have made him open his eyes and put him in fighting humor at once; but he thought it best to avoid that subject altogether.
Zeke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he told Zeke that Uncle John had threatened to take his herd of cattle away from him, under the plea of reducing expenses, but really as George believed, for the purpose of turning it over to Ned, the old man would have been as angry as George was when he first learned of the fact.
