adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
archesnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃəz/
plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading Upon it my story begins.
boatsnounUS /boʊts/
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
DanishnounUS /ˈdeɪnɪʃ/
a Scandinavian language that is the official language of Denmark
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
dromedarynounUS /ˈdrɑːməderi/
one-humped camel of the hot deserts of northern Africa and southwestern Asia
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading The bridge is long since gone.
grass-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
humps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The bridge is long since gone.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Upon it my story begins.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
lanenounUS /leɪn/
a narrow way or road
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The bridge is long since gone.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Upon it my story begins.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
NibsnounUS /nɪbz/
plural of “nib” — the writing point of a pen
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
northnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
outlying areas (as of a city or town)
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
Ribe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
rompingverbUS /ˈrɑːmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “romp” — play boisterously
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
seacoastnounUS /ˈsiːkoʊst/
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The bridge is long since gone.
spannedverbUS /spænd/
inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Upon it my story begins.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The grass-grown lane that knew our romping feet leads nowhere now.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
twinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon it my story begins.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading On the outskirts of the ancient town of Ribe, on the Danish north seacoast, a wooden bridge spanned the Nibs River when I was a boy--a frail structure, with twin arches like the humps of a dromedary, for boats to go under.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading But in my memory it is all as it was that day nearly forty years ago, and it is always summer there.
