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 In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
battle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
bloody
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
blue-coated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
cavalry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
charge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
dishonored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
disobeyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
edged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
enemy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
fearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
foray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
fringe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
harried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
heat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
Knee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
laws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
leader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now the troopers waited--and for what?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
orders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
riders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
ripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
ruck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
shade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
shirked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
straps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
sword
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This man had been taken from them, himself a servant who had disobeyed these laws, his sword dishonored, his shoulder straps ripped off before their eyes.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
troop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
troopers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now the troopers waited--and for what?
trusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
valleys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knee to knee, the silent, blue-coated riders sat, waiting, waiting--not for a charge upon the enemy, or orders for a foray through an already harried land.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the shade of a fringe of trees that edged the river bank a troop of cavalry was drawn up in one long, thin line.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And now the troopers waited--and for what?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They waited for a leader--a man who had led them through the heat and cold, through peaceful valleys and the bloody ruck of battle; a man whom they loved and trusted, fearing him only when they shirked a duty or disobeyed the iron laws of war.
