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 Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
Billy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
branches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
cattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
Cove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
creeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
fattening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
fed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
forlorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
fruit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
galloped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
gorge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
grunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
hog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
MARTHY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
meadow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
orchard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
rattling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
slid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
stride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
vaguely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.