used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
boundariesnounUS /ˈbaʊndəriz/
plural of “boundary” — the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
camel-track
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
without deviation
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
dragomannoun
an interpreter and guide in the Near East
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
drainedadjectiveUS /dreɪnd/
emptied or exhausted of (as by drawing off e.g. water or other liquid)
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
ElnounUS /el/
angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
Hamrân
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
Homra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
many-peaked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
Muriel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
oasesnounUS /oʊˈeɪsiz/
plural of “oasis” — a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
oasisnounUS /oʊˈeɪsɪs/
a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
RangesnounUS /ˈreɪndʒəz/
plural of “range” — an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
on the contrary
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
situatedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪtʃuːeɪtɪd/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading It is a huge hollow separated by high ground from the smaller basin in which the former oasis is situated.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
undulatingverbUS /ˈʌndʒəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “undulate” — stir up (water) so as to form ripples
From this reading Ranges of hills form the boundaries of this area, those to the east being high and many-peaked, the others low and undulating; and from one side of the plain to the other must be something like twenty miles.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
(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 Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
wellsnounUS /welz/
prolific English writer best known for his science-fiction novels; he also wrote on contemporary social problems and wrote popular accounts of history and science (1866-1946)
From this reading There are three wells between the two oases, the second being practically in the centre of the plain, and marking the half-way point of the journey.
at the time that
From this reading Muriel and her dragoman reached this well at about one o’clock, when the sun was almost directly overhead and the glare intense.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The road, or rather camel-track, from El Homra to El Hamrân passes across a wide plain of comparatively flat sand, which looks like the bed of a vast lake from which the waters have been drained off.
