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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 Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
almost
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From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
artisans
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From this reading They were chronically discouraged, and the merchants and artisans of the town were in the same state.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
back
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From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
bank
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From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a miserable place in which to be born.
black
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From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
called
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From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
chronically
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From this reading They were chronically discouraged, and the merchants and artisans of the town were in the same state.
derision
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From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
discouraged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were chronically discouraged, and the merchants and artisans of the town were in the same state.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
exception
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
exhausted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
gaunt
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From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
hole
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From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
Hugh
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From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
Hugh's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a miserable place in which to be born.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
Landing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
McVey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
merchants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were chronically discouraged, and the merchants and artisans of the town were in the same state.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
miserable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a miserable place in which to be born.
Mississippi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
Missouri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
mud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
Mudcat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
no-account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a miserable place in which to be born.
race
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
River
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were chronically discouraged, and the merchants and artisans of the town were in the same state.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
shallow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
soil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
State
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
stony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
stuck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
tilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a miserable place in which to be born.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
unproductive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were chronically discouraged, and the merchants and artisans of the town were in the same state.
western
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was born in a little hole of a town stuck on a mud bank on the western shore of the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a miserable place in which to be born.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
worthless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of a narrow strip of black mud along the river, the land for ten miles back from the town--called in derision by river men “Mudcat Landing”--was almost entirely worthless and unproductive.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The soil, yellow, shallow and stony, was tilled, in Hugh's time, by a race of long gaunt men who seemed as exhausted and no-account as the land on which they lived.
