used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
any thing at all
From this reading Hilda wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
Burchie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
clothing in general
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Hilda wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
green-brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Hilda wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
Hilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
levelsnounUS /ˈlevəlz/
plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
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 Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading Hilda wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
become covered with mist
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
subject to death
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
pranknounUS /præŋk/
acting like a clown or buffoon
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
a particular situation
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
the season of growth
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
StakedverbUS /steɪkt/
past form of “stake” — put at risk
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
STOCKINGSnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Throughout the long, dry summer it hid beneath the soft green-brown that clothes its mighty levels, dreaming delicate mist of dream, that showed to mortal eyes as mirage.
Val
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
at the time that
From this reading Think of it—think of being away when that happened!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading STOCKINGS AND SHOES Spring came along while Aunt Val and Burchie were in Fort Worth.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
yearlynounUS /ˈjɪrli/
a reference book that is published regularly once every year
From this reading For she knew that this country of the Staked Plain played a yearly prank.
