used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
from appearances alone
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
aromaticadjectiveUS /ˌerəˈmætɪk/
(chemistry) of or relating to or containing one or more benzene rings
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
dampedverbUS /dæmpt/
past form of “damp” — deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
driving-seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
fragrantadjectiveUS /ˈfreɪɡrənt/
pleasant-smelling
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
joltedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊltɪd/
bumped or shaken jerkily
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
Leland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
levelsnounUS /ˈlevəlz/
plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
not any; not one
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
peppermintnounUS /ˈpepərmɪnt/
herb with downy leaves and small purple or white flowers that yields a pungent oil used as a flavoring
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
softnessnounUS /ˈsɔːftnəs/
the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
teamsnounUS /tiːmz/
plural of “team” — a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
having passed out of existence
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The other teams had vanished, and they rode on over the vast shadowy levels alone.
waggonnoun
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They sat in a hollow of the fragrant grass, and the softness and the warmth of it were pleasant, for, as sometimes happens at that season, the night was almost chill.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading AN UNDERSTANDING A deep stillness hung over the prairie, and the stars were high and dim, while the waggon jolted on.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A clean, aromatic smell of wild peppermint floated about the pair on the driving-seat as the faint dew damped the load behind them.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Though the team moved slowly, Leland had apparently no wish to hurry them.
