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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 Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
Asper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
assurance
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From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
attempt
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From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
back
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From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
bank
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From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
Barry
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From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
brandished
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From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
close
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From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
command
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
covert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
crossing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
down-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
farther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
Fists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
gestures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
give
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From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
ground
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From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
guns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
holsters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
Mark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
perfect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
posse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
reluctant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
Retherton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
roaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
safety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
shrubbery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
slipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
ThroughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
troop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
unreachable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
wade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Fists were brandished toward the green covert on the farther side of the river, so close, such an unreachable distance.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
Wilsonville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One or two rode their horses down to the very edge of the water, but they gave up the thought and the whole troop turned back toward Wilsonville; even the horses were down-headed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was in time to see Mark Retherton give a command with gestures that sent reluctant guns into the holsters.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Not one of that posse would attempt the crossing, he felt, but he slipped back through the shrubbery close to the bank to make sure.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through ten months of the year a child of ten could wade the Asper but now its deep roaring that set the ground quivering under Barry gave him perfect assurance of safety.