used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
AfricanadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
AustraliannounUS /ɔːˈstreɪljən/
a native or inhabitant of Australia
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
BOUNDARY-RIDER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
clay-pans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
coloursnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a distinguishing emblem
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
dark-blueadjective
of a dark shade of blue
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
desirableadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/
worth having or seeking or achieving
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
glaringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlerɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
meritnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
miragenounUS /mərˈɑːʒ/
an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
mixverbUS /mɪks/
mix together different elements
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
not any; not one
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
OmitverbUS /oʊˈmɪt/
prevent from being included or considered or accepted
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
and nothing more
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
PADDOCKnounUS /ˈpædək/
pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
pale-green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
a full supply
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
representverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzent/
take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
SaharanounUS /səˈherə/
the world's largest desert (3,500,000 square miles) in northern Africa
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
saliferousadjective
containing or yielding salt
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sand-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
lacking in magnitude or quantity
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sheep-country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
simplicitynounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/
the quality of being simple or uncompounded
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
not in physical motion
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
thickestadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkɪst/
superlative of “thick” — not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
thirstyadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːrsti/
needing moisture
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
verticaladjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrtɪkəl/
at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
in the company of; together with
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
YELKIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
