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 He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They had about them a strong scent of horses.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
beating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
Ben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
Ben's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
bunkhouse
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From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
cards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
Cumberland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
foreman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
giant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
go
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From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had about them a strong scent of horses.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
lonely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
OutsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
ranch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
rode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading They had about them a strong scent of horses.
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had about them a strong scent of horses.
Swann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
taller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had about them a strong scent of horses.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
vaguely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
vastly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside stood two men, very tall, taller than himself, and one of them a giant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
wastenounUS /weɪst/
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was Ben Swann, therefore, who ran down and flung open the door, on which a heavy hand was beating.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the night when old Joe Cumberland died and Kate Cumberland rode off after her wild man, Ben Swann, the foreman of the Cumberland ranch, had lived in the big house.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would have been vastly more comfortable in the bunkhouse playing cards with the other hands, but Ben Swann felt vaguely that it was a shame for so much space in the ranch house to go to waste, and besides, Ben's natural dignity was at home in the place even if his mind grew lonely.
