adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
affordingverbUS /əˈfɔːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
assuringadjectiveUS /əˈʃʊrɪŋ/
giving confidence
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
blockingnounUS /ˈblɑːkɪŋ/
the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
ChristmasnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
drouthnoun
a prolonged shortage
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/
depressingly dark
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
helpverbUS /help/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
houndsnounUS /haʊndz/
plural of “hound” — any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
huntverbUS /hʌnt/
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
huntingnounUS /ˈhʌntɪŋ/
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
insureverbUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊr/
be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
LancenounUS /læns/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
LASnounUS /lɑːs/
plural of “la” — a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
milesnounUS /maɪlz/
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
moisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/
wetness caused by water
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
occurredverbUS /əˈkɜːrd/
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
PALOMAS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
provedadjectiveUS /pruːvd/
established beyond doubt
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
Shepherd'snounUS /ˈʃepərdz/
possessive form of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
sleetnounUS /sliːt/
partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow)
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
socialadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊʃəl/
relating to human society and its members
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
soilnounUS /sɔɪl/
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
stonenounUS /stoʊn/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after or following
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
UnclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading After the holidays several warm rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the soil to insure an early spring.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
weddingsnounUS /ˈwedɪŋz/
plural of “wedding” — the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
weeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
Wilson'snounUS /ˈwɪlsənz/
possessive form of “wilson” — author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
WINTERnounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The preceding winter had been gloomy, but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during Christmas week.
