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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
ambition
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From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/
to reach or total a particular quantity or value
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
basin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
Billy
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From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
boot-heels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
bottom
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From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
BUSINESS
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From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
channel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
clungnounUS /clung/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
coarse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
COW
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From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
creek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
dumped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
eagerness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
goldpan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
gravel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
HELPnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
intent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
leash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
mining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
motion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
novice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
refilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
rocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
rotary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
sediment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
Several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
sharper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
sluggishly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
spoonfuls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
squatting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
tin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
unhurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Several times he refilled the basin, and the amount of sand grew less and less, until there remained only a few spoonfuls of coarse gravel and a sediment that clung to the bottom of the basin and moved sluggishly around and around.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HELP FOR THE COW BUSINESS He had no goldpan of his own, since this was not a mining country, and his ambition had run in a different channel.
washbasin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, therefore, took the tin washbasin down to the creek and dumped the sand into it.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His eyes were sharper and more intent in their gaze than Billy Louise had ever seen them, and, though his movements were unhurried, they were full of eagerness held in leash.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, squatting on his boot-heels at the edge of the stream, he filled the basin with water and rocked it gently with a rotary motion that proved him no novice at the work.
