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 I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
affair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
ankle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
battery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
bowels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
burrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
burrowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
coveted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
dance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
dismal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
dreary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
driven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam.
EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each of these rods or stamps weighed six hundred pounds.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
ends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
framed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
heavily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each of these rods or stamps weighed six hundred pounds.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
laborious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
mill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Each of these rods or stamps weighed six hundred pounds.
ore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
ponderous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
pounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each of these rods or stamps weighed six hundred pounds.
rods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
shod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
six-stamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam.
stamps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each of these rods or stamps weighed six hundred pounds.
steam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This mill was a six-stamp affair, driven by steam.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had to turn out at six in the morning and keep at it till dark.
weighednounUS /ˈweighed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Each of these rods or stamps weighed six hundred pounds.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Six tall, upright rods of iron, as large as a man's ankle, and heavily shod with a mass of iron and steel at their lower ends, were framed together like a gate, and these rose and fell, one after the other, in a ponderous dance, in an iron box called a "battery."
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had already learned how hard and long and dismal a task it is to burrow down into the bowels of the earth and get out the coveted ore; and now I learned that the burrowing was only half the work; and that to get the silver out of the ore was the dreary and laborious other half of it.
