adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading The farm-houses seemed to be enjoying their usual activity.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
announcingverbUS /əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/
-ing form of “announce” — make known; make an announcement
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
anxiouslyadverbUS /ˈæŋkʃəsli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
bareheadedadjective
having the head uncovered
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
barkedverbUS /bɑːrkt/
past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
bawledverbUS /bɔːld/
past form of “bawl” — shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The farm-houses seemed to be enjoying their usual activity.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
brokeadjectiveUS /broʊk/
lacking funds
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
calvesnounUS /kævz/
plural of “calf” — young of domestic cattle
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
cow-bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
dinner-pail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
dogsnounUS /dɑːɡz/
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading The farm-houses seemed to be enjoying their usual activity.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
farm-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farm-houses seemed to be enjoying their usual activity.
fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
glintverbUS /ɡlɪnt/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
hensnounUS /henz/
plural of “hen” — adult female chicken
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
jangledverbUS /ˈdʒæŋɡəld/
past form of “jangle” — make a sound typical of metallic objects
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "They are not dead," said Pearl, as she listened, bareheaded, at the gate, "not dead, except to me--but they are not going to let the children come!
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
monotonynounUS /məˈnɑːtəni/
the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
OPENINGnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
PearlnounUS /pɜːrl/
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
PurplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/
a purple color or pigment
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
ribbonsnounUS /ˈrɪbənz/
plural of “ribbon” — any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The farm-houses seemed to be enjoying their usual activity.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
spielers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
SpringsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
startverbUS /stɑːrt/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
strawnounUS /strɔː/
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
sun-bonnet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
sweaternounUS /ˈswetər/
a crocheted or knitted garment covering the upper part of the body
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The farm-houses seemed to be enjoying their usual activity.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading The roads leading from the Purple Springs school lay like twisted brown ribbons on the tender green fields, but not a child, not a straw hat, red sweater, sun-bonnet; not a glint of a dinner-pail broke the monotony of the bright spring morning.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The farm-houses seemed to be enjoying their usual activity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
WAYnounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The spielers among the hens were announcing that the day's business was off to a good start, with prospects never brighter, dogs barked, calves bawled, cow-bells jangled--there was even a murmur of talking.
wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading THE OPENING OF THE WAY "I wonder where they are," Pearl said to herself, as she looked anxiously out of the window of the school on Monday morning.
