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 Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
afterward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
boards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
bullet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
chicken-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
crack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
feed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
GoodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
gun-sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
habit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
Immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
Indian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
instinctively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
knife-blade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
located
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
plank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
plunked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
probed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
puff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
rifle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
rim-rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
spatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
splintered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
stable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
stepping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
strongly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He marked the place instinctively with his eyes, and went on to the stable, stepping rather more quickly than was his habit.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was turning it curiously in his fingers when another one plunked into the boards, three feet to one side of him; this time he was sure of the gun-sound, and he also saw a puff of blue smoke rise up on the rim-rock above him.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
viciously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
whined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good Indian was going to the stable to feed the horses next morning, when something whined past him and spatted viciously against the side of the chicken-house.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Immediately afterward he thought he heard the sharp crack which a rifle makes, but the wind was blowing strongly up the valley, and he could not be sure.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He went over to the chicken-house, probed with his knife-blade into the plank where was the splintered hole, and located a bullet.
