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 The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
accidental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
Bidwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
encounter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
evenings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
former
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
Indiana
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
McVey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
Missourian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
neighboring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
northern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
operator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
queer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
reputation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
resident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
roads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
sawmill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
telegraph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
twenty-three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
vacant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
WheelingnounUS /ˈwheeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
