abyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
alkalinounUS /ˈælkəlaɪ/
any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
awfulnessnounUS /ˈɔːfəlnəs/
a quality of extreme unpleasantness
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
boilingnounUS /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/
the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
cataclysms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
dumbfoundsverbUS /ˈdʌmfaʊndz/
third-person singular of “dumbfound” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
exaltedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
greedyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːdi/
immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
limpidadjective
clear and bright
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
mystifiesverbUS /ˈmɪstəfaɪz/
third-person singular of “mystify” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
pebbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
poisonousadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪzənəs/
having the qualities or effects of a poison
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
quicksandsnounUS /ˈkwɪksændz/
plural of “quicksand” — a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
rentverbUS /rent/
let for money
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
move upward
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
river-beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
shiftverbUS /ʃɪft/
make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
sorrowsnounUS /ˈsɑːroʊz/
plural of “sorrow” — an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
spiresnounUS /spaɪrz/
plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading Smooth plains fall into an abyss, or rise in bleak rock spires.
StupendousadjectiveUS /stuːˈpendəs/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
sublimeadjectiveUS /səˈblaɪm/
inspiring awe
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Firm, pebbled river-beds suddenly shift to greedy quicksands; pools that look cool and limpid are boiling, or poisonous alkali.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Stupendous in its desolation, sublime in its awfulness, it mystifies and dumbfounds at every turn.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading What sorrows have so terribly wasted, what cataclysms rent it, what courage exalted it!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading INTO THE DESERT What has this land lived through?
