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 To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
choosing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
chosen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
countless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
decreed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
driving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
eight-and-forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
EWE-GATHERING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
farmers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
fell-tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
fells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
gathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
haphazard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
hinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
hounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
lands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
Logie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
master-farmers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
merry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
nearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
Pengables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
sheep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
shepherds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
signs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
taught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
tokens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
warmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
weather-lore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE EWE-GATHERING They were gathering their sheep from the fells under Pengables, to bring them down into the warmer lands below.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Logie country, if it guessed what was to come, made merry with the time left it.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading And the shepherds had decreed that within eight-and-forty hours the wind hounds of the north would be driving snow before them.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The farmers, indeed, might have done the work at haphazard, choosing a time here and there as occasion served; but their shepherds lived nearer the fell-tops where true weather-lore was taught by countless little signs and tokens.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To a stranger it would have seemed odd that so many shepherds, and master-farmers with their hinds, should have chosen the same day.