adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
adventureverbUS /ædˈventʃər/
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
Bakersville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
Burnsville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
capitalnounUS /ˈkæpətəl/
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
choicenounUS /tʃɔɪs/
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
creeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
crimesnounUS /kraɪmz/
plural of “crime” — (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
crossingnounUS /ˈkrɔːsɪŋ/
traveling across
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
fairlyadverbUS /ˈferli/
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
fordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/
the act of giving
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
grist-mill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
milesnounUS /maɪlz/
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
murderverbUS /ˈmɜːrdər/
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
OhnounUS /oʊ/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
rideverbUS /raɪd/
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
roughadjectiveUS /rʌf/
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
routesnounUS /ruːts/
plural of “route” — an established line of travel or access
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
setsnounUS /sets/
plural of “set” — a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
sightlyadjective
very pleasing to the eye
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
storenounUS /stɔːr/
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
streamnounUS /striːm/
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
ToenounUS /toʊ/
one of the digits of the foot
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The way for the first three miles lay down a small creek and in a valley fairly settled, the houses, a store, and a grist-mill giving evidence of the new enterprise of the region.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Oh, murder! what crimes are done in thy name."
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Toe River was reached, there was a choice of routes.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
wishedverbUS /wɪʃt/
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We might ford the Toe at that point, where the river was wide, but shallow, and the crossing safe, and climb over the mountain by a rough but sightly road, or descend the stream by a better road and ford the river at a place rather dangerous to those unfamiliar with it.
Yancey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the comrades wished an adventure, they had a small one, more interesting to them than to the public, the morning they left Bakersville to ride to Burnsville, which sets itself up as the capital of Yancey.
