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 Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
AgainnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
Alaska
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
barrier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
bloodsuckers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
cattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
cattlemen
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From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
Chaco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
Concepcion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
east
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
gunboat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
herds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
inscrutable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
insects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
loathsome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
menaces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
Panhandle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
Rickard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
swarmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
Tex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
thirty-five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
throve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
tick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
ticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
tract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now has a large tract of land and some thirty-five thousand head of cattle in the Chaco, opposite Concepcion, at which city he was to stop.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Again and again he had crossed herds of cattle which were covered with the loathsome bloodsuckers; and in a couple of months every tick would be dead.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
Western
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With me on the gunboat was an old Western friend, Tex Rickard, of the Panhandle and Alaska and various places in between.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He told me that horses did not do well in the Chaco but that cattle throve, and that while ticks swarmed on the east bank of the great river, they would not live on the west bank.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Nevertheless for some as yet inscrutable reason the river served as a barrier to certain insects which are menaces to the cattlemen.
