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 It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
brass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
canoe
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From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
chest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
cooking
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From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
Country
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From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
crucifix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
dust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
fishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
follow
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From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
food
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From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
gossip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
hardships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
lies
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From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
Lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
Madeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
mightily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
moccasins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
niece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
poling-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
potlach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
promises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
River
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
sharing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
Sisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
swarthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
trails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
Upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But in the morning Madeline shook the dust of the Lower River from her moccasins, and with her husband, in a poling-boat, went to live on the Upper River in a place known as the Lower Country.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she kept him in straight trails, till he learned to save his dust and to work mightily.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is not given the world to know what promises he made and what lies he told--the Sisters never gossip; but when he returned, upon his swarthy chest there was a brass crucifix, and in his canoe his niece Madeline.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in the years which followed she was a good wife, sharing her husband's hardships and cooking his food.
