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 Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
bandied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
Blount
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
bonded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
Borax
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
burro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
camp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
Colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
crosscut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
dunes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
EVENING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
fugitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
hobo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
Indians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
miner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
Mines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
mourned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
Paymaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
raided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
rambling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
reported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
riding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
sandstorm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
SOCRATES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some desperate fugitive, or rambling hobo miner seeking a crosscut to the Borax Mines below, had raided his camp in his absence; and, riding off on his burro, had met his death in a sandstorm.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
stock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Colonel--did he know that his family had mourned him as dead, and bandied his stock back and forth?
surmise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
tracks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he know that the Paymaster had been bonded and opened up, and lost again to Blount?
Valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His were the tracks that the Indians had followed and somewhere in Death Valley he lay beneath the sand dunes in place of a better man.
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN EVENING WITH SOCRATES How the Colonel had come to be reported dead it was easy enough now to surmise.