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 ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
alfalfa
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From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
AMUSEMENT
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From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
blade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
broad
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From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
buxom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
cactus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
cemeterynounUS /ˈcemetery/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
charm
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From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
climbed
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From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
desolation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
donkeys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
dreary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
dug
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From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
dynasties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
eighteenth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
kings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
leads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
LifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
Luxor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
Nile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
nineteenth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
OTHER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
picked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
PLACES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
region
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
ROYAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
sailboat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
shrub
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
steep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
stingy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
sure-enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
TOMBS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
trail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
twentieth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
utterness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
wheat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
winding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
