adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Truly it was a year of fatness succeeding a lean one.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
beefnounUS /biːf/
cattle that are reared for their meat
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
bottomsnounUS /ˈbɑːtəmz/
plural of “bottom” — the lower side of anything
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/
the act of breaking something
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
butcher'snounUS /ˈbʊtʃərz/
possessive form of “butcher” — a retailer of meat
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
cattlenounUS /ˈkætəl/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
drouthnoun
a prolonged shortage
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
encinal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
exceptionsnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃənz/
plural of “exception” — a deliberate act of omission
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
fallow-weed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
fatnessnoun
excess bodily weight
From this reading Truly it was a year of fatness succeeding a lean one.
fitverbUS /fɪt/
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
foragenounUS /ˈfɔːrɪdʒ/
bulky food like grass or hay for browsing or grazing horses or cattle
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
forsakenverbUS /fɔːrˈseɪkən/
inflected form of “forsake” — leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
grazingnounUS /ˈɡreɪzɪŋ/
the act of grazing
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
immenseadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmens/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
instinctnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
landsnounUS /lændz/
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Truly it was a year of fatness succeeding a lean one.
margoso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
mesquitenounUS /ˈmeskiːt/
any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large pods rich in sugar
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
nativesnounUS /ˈneɪtɪvz/
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Truly it was a year of fatness succeeding a lean one.
plantverbUS /plænt/
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
rareadjectiveUS /rer/
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
SHADOWSnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after or following
From this reading Truly it was a year of fatness succeeding a lean one.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
thriven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This plant had thriven all winter, and the cattle had forsaken the best mesquite grazing in the river bottoms to forage on it.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
TrulyadverbUS /ˈtruːli/
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Truly it was a year of fatness succeeding a lean one.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The results showed that their instinct was true; for with very rare exceptions every beef on the ranch was fit for the butcher’s block.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
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 SHADOWS Spring was now at hand after an unusually mild winter.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the breaking of the drouth of the summer before there had sprung up all through the encinal and sandy lands an immense crop of weeds, called by the natives _margoso_, fallow-weed.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Truly it was a year of fatness succeeding a lean one.
