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 The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
also
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From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
armed
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From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
Battle
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From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
blow
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From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
bounded
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From this reading Curdie and the page, with Lina and her pack, bounded to meet them.
brandishing
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From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
butchers
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From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
commanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
commend
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From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
Curdie
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From this reading Curdie and the page, with Lina and her pack, bounded to meet them.
defiance
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From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
dogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curdie struck down the foremost with his mattock.
enemy
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From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
foremostnounUS /ˈforemost/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Curdie struck down the foremost with his mattock.
girths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
guards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
hard
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From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Curdie and the page, with Lina and her pack, bounded to meet them.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
king
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
knives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
Lina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curdie and the page, with Lina and her pack, bounded to meet them.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
mattock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curdie struck down the foremost with his mattock.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curdie and the page, with Lina and her pack, bounded to meet them.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
pack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curdie and the page, with Lina and her pack, bounded to meet them.
page
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
rushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
saddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
secure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
slackened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Curdie struck down the foremost with his mattock.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The butchers came on first--for the guards had slackened their saddle girths--brandishing their knives, and talking to their dogs.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
thereafter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
trumpet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
warlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the butchers and the guard, who had gone over armed to the enemy, thinking that the king had come to make his peace also, and that it might thereafter go hard with them, rushed at once to make short work with him, and both secure and commend themselves.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle He commanded the page to blow his trumpet; and, in the strength of the moment, the youth uttered a right warlike defiance.
