used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
breast-highadverb
up to the breast
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
lacking funds
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
campsnounUS /kæmps/
plural of “camp” — temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading Joshua drove to the _sienega_ on Mrs. Mundy’s claim.
ColenounUS /koʊl/
a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
crackledverbUS /ˈkrækəld/
past form of “crackle” — make a crackling sound
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
haynounUS /heɪ/
grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
homesteadersnounUS /ˈhoʊmstedərz/
plural of “homesteader” — someone who settles lawfully on government land with the intent to acquire title to it
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
JoshuanounUS /ˈdʒɑːʃuːə/
(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
and nothing more
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Joshua drove to the _sienega_ on Mrs. Mundy’s claim.
mulesnounUS /mjuːlz/
plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
Mundy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joshua drove to the _sienega_ on Mrs. Mundy’s claim.
nibbledverbUS /ˈnɪbəld/
past form of “nibble” — bite off very small pieces
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
RAGTOWN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
ROCKYadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
sagenounUS /seɪdʒ/
a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
sagebrushnounUS /ˈseɪdʒbrʌʃ/
any of several North American composite subshrubs of the genera Artemis or Seriphidium
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
cut with a saw
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
ShantynounUS /ˈʃænti/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
sienega
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joshua drove to the _sienega_ on Mrs. Mundy’s claim.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
in or at or to some place
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
SpyglassnounUS /ˈspaɪɡlæs/
a small refracting telescope
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
StirrupnounUS /ˈstɜːrəp/
support consisting of metal loops into which rider's feet go
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
TentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They saw several camps as they passed along, and it appeared that a colony of homesteaders had just come in from somewhere outside the country.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO RAGTOWN FOR over two hours Joshua Cole and Shanty Madge drove their mules along the north shore of Stirrup Lake, then turned up through the unbroken sweep of sagebrush toward Spyglass Mountain.
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading Tents had been pitched and stock stood about and nibbled hay in the wagon beds.
wagonsnounUS /ˈwæɡənz/
plural of “wagon” — any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sage, though breast-high in places, broke easily before the passage of the mules, and the wagons crackled their way up the slope, breaking a trail which afterward was to become a road.
