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 UNDER A FALLEN TREE.
alkali
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
any
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From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
brilliant
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From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
Cal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
chaparral
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From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
clear
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From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
cougar
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From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
cover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
electricity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
FALLEN
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From this reading UNDER A FALLEN TREE.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
hurricane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
hurry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
lightning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
plains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
ranch-boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
storms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
thundernounUS /ˈthunder/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
TREE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER A FALLEN TREE.
tree-tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER A FALLEN TREE.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
Up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Cal had been all day in a chaparral without water, and he knew by experience how very dry an alkali desert could be, whether under a hot sun or a brilliant moon.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder a poor cougar should be in a hurry to get under safe cover if he had any clear idea that all this was coming.
wonders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen sudden storms before, for he was a ranch-boy, and there are wonders of electricity and rain at times upon the plains.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to the moment when the hurricane struck the tree-tops, however, he had never fully understood what could be done by wind and water and thunder and lightning, at their very best working strength, working together.
