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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
all
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From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
August
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From this reading It was August.
baked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
bathing
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From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
bore
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From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
cattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
cloudless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
ditches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
dried
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From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
dried-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
dust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was August.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
marshes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
pond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
reeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
roads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
salt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
sand-drifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
scorchedadjectiveUS /skɔːrtʃt/
Burned by flames or heat; blackened by intense magical or physical fire.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
shouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
slimy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
splashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
subsided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
trodden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
Térek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
unbearably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was August.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water had long since subsided in the Térek and rapidly vanished and dried up in the ditches.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
whirl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For days the sky had been cloudless, the sun scorched unbearably and from early morning the warm wind raised a whirl of hot sand from the sand-drifts and from the road, and bore it in the air through the reeds, the trees, and the village.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The grass and the leaves on the trees were covered with dust, the roads and dried-up salt marshes were baked so hard that they rang when trodden on.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The slimy banks of the pond near the village were trodden bare by the cattle and all day long you could hear the splashing of water and the shouting of girls and boys bathing.
