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Poor White: A Novel
Poor White: A Novel

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Poor White: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.
It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.
From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.
The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.
South of the town the river not only spreads out, but the hills recede.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Poor White: A Novel

Chapter III

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.
Line 2
It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.
Line 3
From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.
Line 4
The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.
Line 5
South of the town the river not only spreads out, but the hills recede.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.”

Prosperous adjective US /ˈprɑspərəs/

successful and without serious problems

From this reading “From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.”

All words in this reading · 90

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 Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

ages

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

becomes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.

Bidwell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

busy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

Central

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

deep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

go

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

goes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

growth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

hills

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading South of the town the river not only spreads out, but the hills recede.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

Hugh

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

humanity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

hundred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

lies

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

live

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

manufacturing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

McVey

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

nearly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

Ohio

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

old

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading South of the town the river not only spreads out, but the hills recede.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

penetrate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

people

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

population

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

problem

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑspərəs/

successful and without serious problems

From this reading From the beginning Bidwell has been a prosperous place.

rapid-flowing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

recede

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading South of the town the river not only spreads out, but the hills recede.

river

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

search

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

shallow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

shut

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

singing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

South

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading South of the town the river not only spreads out, but the hills recede.

spreads

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

stones

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

story

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

surprising

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

swiftly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

telling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

thousand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

town

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

towns

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

try

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

valley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

wall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

West

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

wide

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The town lies in the valley of a deep, rapid-flowing river that spreads out just above the town, becomes for the time wide and shallow, and goes singing swiftly along over stones.

work

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bidwell, Ohio, was an old town as the ages of towns go in the Central West, long before Hugh McVey, in his search for a place where he could penetrate the wall that shut him off from humanity, went there to live and to try to work out his problem.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading It is a busy manufacturing town now and has a population of nearly a hundred thousand people; but the time for the telling of the story of its sudden and surprising growth has not yet come.