adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading I gave also a laconic answer.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading I gave also a laconic answer.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
armedadjectiveUS /ɑːrmd/
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
ARRESTEDverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading ARRESTED!
AstrakhannounUS /ˈæstrəkɑːn/
the fur of young lambs
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
Buriats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
capenounUS /keɪp/
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
CaucasiannounUS /kɔːˈkeɪʒən/
a Caucasian
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
cowlnounUS /kaʊl/
protective covering consisting of a metal part that covers the engine
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
crossingnounUS /ˈkrɔːsɪŋ/
traveling across
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
demandedverbUS /dɪˈmændəd/
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
detachmentnounUS /dɪˈtætʃmənt/
avoiding emotional involvement
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading I gave also a laconic answer.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
groupnounUS /ɡruːp/
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I gave also a laconic answer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
laconicadjectiveUS /lɑːˈkɑːnɪk/
brief and to the point; effectively cut short
From this reading I gave also a laconic answer.
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
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 About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
MongolsnounUS /ˈmɑːŋɡəlz/
plural of “mongol” — a member of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
shorenounUS /ʃɔːr/
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
snakelikeadjectiveUS /ˈsneɪklaɪk/
resembling a serpent in form
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
streamnounUS /striːm/
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
swampyadjectiveUS /ˈswɑːmpi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
TibetansnounUS /təˈbetənz/
plural of “tibetan” — Himalayish language spoken in Tibet
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
twelvenounUS /twelv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The group consisted of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading At the head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded of me: “Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?”
Zain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About twelve miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream.
