used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
Benicia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
Bim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
lacking funds
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
cindernounUS /ˈsɪndər/
a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
desert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
droughtnounUS /draʊt/
a shortage of rainfall
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
emanationsnounUS /ˌeməˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “emanation” — something that is emitted or radiated (as a gas or an odor or a light, etc.)
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
exultedverbUS /ɪɡˈzʌltɪd/
past form of “exult” — feel extreme happiness or elation
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
let have
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
greasewoodnounUS /ˈɡriːswʊd/
low hardy much-branched spiny shrub common in alkaline soils of western America
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
headiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
not accessible to view
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
hungrilyadverbUS /ˈhʌŋɡrəli/
in the manner of someone who is very hungry
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
lashedverbUS /læʃt/
past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
palo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
Pinacate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
renewalnounUS /rɪˈnuːəl/
the conversion of wasteland into land suitable for use of habitation or cultivation
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
Identical; not different.
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
sparseadjectiveUS /spɑːrs/
not dense
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
spicyadjectiveUS /ˈspaɪsi/
producing a burning sensation on the taste nerves
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
suckverbUS /sʌk/
draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
suddennessnounUS /ˈsʌdənnəs/
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The desert’s sparse growing things exulted in the breaking of long drought.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
torrentialadjectiveUS /tɔːˈrenʃəl/
relating to or resulting from the action of a torrent
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
TROVEnounUS /troʊv/
treasure of unknown ownership found hidden (usually in the earth)
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
verde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
wastesnounUS /weɪsts/
plural of “waste” — any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
at the time that
From this reading Hardly an hour had torrential waters lashed the cinder wastes of Pinacate when the black pall over the heavens broke away and the sun came out to suck hungrily at pools in the rocks.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For a long time Grant and Benicia on their side of the gorge and Bim in his retreat opposite lay hidden, awaiting possible renewal of the attack which the storm had scattered.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading There was a headiness of wine in the air, a smell of wet soil mingled with spicy emanations from greasewood and _palo verde_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading TREASURE TROVE The storm ceased with the same suddenness as it began.
