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 There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
adobe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
bubbled
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From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
CHAPARRAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
chosen
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From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
constructed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/
an open area surrounded by the walls of a building
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
depth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
dug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
excellent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
fail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
fourthnounUS /fourth/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
furnish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
household
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
Lucia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
palisades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
RANCH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
rill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
Santa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
settler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
Spanish-Mexican
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
supplying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE RANCH AND IN THE CHAPARRAL.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
walled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dug out to a depth of several feet and walled in.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had never been known to fail, and it always had enough water left, after supplying the household, to furnish a tiny rill which ran away at one side of the gate in the palisades of the fourth side.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the little spring which bubbled up in the middle of the courtyard around three sides of which the adobe was constructed.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a very excellent reason why the old Spanish-Mexican settler had chosen that exact spot for the Santa Lucia ranch.
