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 Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
Alder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
audible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
Buck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
Cumberland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
Daddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
delicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
eerie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
Elkhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
Haines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
hearth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
Lee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
mark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
puppy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
ranch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
retaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
riding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
StillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
thrown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
Twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was no sound audible to the others in the living room; they did not even mark the manner in which she sat up, and then rose to her feet.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when she whispered “Daddy Dan!” it brought each of the three out of his chair.
whistling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they caught it, very far off, very thin and small, a delicate thread of music, an eerie whistling.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Twenty-four hours from Alder to Elkhead, and beyond Elkhead to the Cumberland ranch, is long riding and hard riding, but not far after dark on the following night, Joan lifted her head, where she played with the puppy on the hearth, and listened.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Still they heard nothing, and Buck and Lee Haines would have retaken their chairs had not Kate gone to the window and thrown it wide.
