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 He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
abstraction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
accustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
ahead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
Armstrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
Border
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
brow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
Bruce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
burnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
committing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
consulted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
cooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
demeanor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
guidance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
King
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
knee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
message
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/
spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
notes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
rein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
rider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
saddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
Scottish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
slept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
soil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
subdued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
supper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
Traquair's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night after he left Traquair’s castle Armstrong slept on Scottish soil, still busy with his task of memory; then he burnt the notes in the fire that cooked his supper.
tug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
unwonted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This unwonted abstraction was not on account of the danger which he knew lay ahead of him, but because he was committing to memory the message to the King.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
wishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The next morning, early, William Armstrong, on Bruce, his black horse, set out for the Border with the good wishes of his host.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
wrinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His naturally gay demeanor was subdued, and he muttered to himself with wrinkled brow as he rode along.
written
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From this reading He carried a mass of notes, which he had written the night before, and these he consulted every now and then, for his horse required no guidance, and if it had, its rider was so accustomed to the saddle that he could have directed the animal in his sleep, for Bruce needed no tug at rein, but merely a whispered word or a touch from one knee or the other.
