used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
cloud-burst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
createverbUS /kriˈeɪt/
make or cause to be or to become
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
creeksnounUS /kriːks/
plural of “creek” — a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading "This'll flush the creeks good."
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
flushnounUS /flʌʃ/
the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
From this reading "This'll flush the creeks good."
fordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
freshetnoun
the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "This'll flush the creeks good."
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
used to form the superlative
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
prehistoricadjectiveUS /ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪk/
belonging to or existing in times before recorded history
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
quicksandsnounUS /ˈkwɪksændz/
plural of “quicksand” — a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/
plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
SalinasnounUS /səˈliːnəs/
plural of “salina” — a town in central Kansas
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
Skenk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "This'll flush the creeks good."
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
This'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This'll flush the creeks good."
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At such times most rivers are dangerous to ford on account of quicksands.
treacherousadjectiveUS /ˈtretʃərəs/
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
umbrellanounUS /əmˈbrelə/
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading "It's a cloud-burst," said Mrs. Skenk, from beneath a prehistoric umbrella.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
precisely as stated
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
at the time that
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading I whipped up the horses, thinking of the Salinas and its treacherous waters.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading In California, when the ground is well sodden, a very small storm will create a very big freshet.
