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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
anchored
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From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
any
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From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
away
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From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
blew
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From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
blown
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From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
buildings
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From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
cluster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
curling
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From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
day
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From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
deeply
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From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
drab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
dwelling-houses
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From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
eddying
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From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
elevator
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From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
frozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
grain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
Hanover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
haphazard
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From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
horse
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From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
howling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
huddled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
January
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From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
Land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
lumber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
Nebraska
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
NonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
overnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
permanence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
pond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
prairie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
railway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
rutted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
snowflakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
sod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
squat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
straying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
tableland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
tough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
Wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
windy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
