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 It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
afire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/
any person at all
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
bigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
blazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
blessing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
charged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
claims
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
coulee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
creeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
deliberate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
ditch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
east
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
economical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
expensive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
Family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
fed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
fight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
flashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
flume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
frugal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
grassland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
grassy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
H
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
Happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
havoc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
hilltop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
hollow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
intent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
irrigation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
J
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
Kid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
lighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
match
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
offense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
Owens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
penalty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
penitentiary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
prairie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
racing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
reclaim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
riding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
rods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
signal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
slipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
surveyor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
system
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
timber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
trail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
tuft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
undertakingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/
a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
valuable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surveyor would have been a blessing, at this point in the undertaking; but a surveyor charged good money for his services, and the Happy Family were trying to be very economical with money; with time, and effort, and with words they were not so frugal.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Happy Family were working hard that day upon the system of irrigation by which they meant to reclaim and make really valuable their desert claims.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Within five minutes after H. J. Owens slipped the bit of mirror back into his pocket after flashing a signal that the Kid was riding alone upon the trail, a line of fire several rods long was creeping up out of a grassy hollow to the hilltop beyond, whence it would go racing away to the east and the north, growing bigger and harder to fight with every grass tuft it fed on.
wrangling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They happened to be, at the time when the fire was started, six or seven miles away, wrangling over the best means of getting their main ditch around a certain coulee without building a lot of expensive flume.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It is a penitentiary offense for anyone to set fire to prairie grass or timber; and if you know the havoc which one blazing match may work upon dry grassland when the wind is blowing free, you will not wonder at the penalty for lighting that match with deliberate intent to set the prairie afire.
