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 From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
confided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
consented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
consequence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
consult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
drink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
drove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
farmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they tried to find out.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
infallible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
leagues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
method
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
neighbor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they tried to find out.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
pinch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
shepherd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they tried to find out.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
Vallin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading They were told of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin one day drove off to consult him.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that day forward she had only one thought: to have a child another child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence of this, a neighbor told her of an infallible method.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was, to make her husband drink a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The farmer consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: “Perhaps there are some secret ways?”
