(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Each time, as she lowered them, she sighed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
binocularsnounUS /bəˈnɑːkjələrz/
(plural) an optical instrument designed for simultaneous use by both eyes
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
the act of breaking something
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
Canby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
chaparralnounUS /ˌʃæpərˈæl/
dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Overhead the sun was creeping slowly toward the zenith.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each time, as she lowered them, she sighed.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
FalconnounUS /ˈfælkən/
diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
fastnessnounUS /ˈfæstnəs/
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
Flunkynoun
a male servant (especially a footman)
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
set up or found
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
a young female
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
held up in the air
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading Each time, as she lowered them, she sighed.
Manzanitanoun
chiefly evergreen shrubs of warm dry areas of western North America
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
messagesnounUS /ˈmesədʒəz/
plural of “message” — a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
the middle of the day
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
OverheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Overhead the sun was creeping slowly toward the zenith.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Each time, as she lowered them, she sighed.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Each time, as she lowered them, she sighed.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Overhead the sun was creeping slowly toward the zenith.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
Squawtooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Overhead the sun was creeping slowly toward the zenith.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
They've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
the upper part of anything
From this reading BREAKING CLOUDS FOR ONE ON top of the gigantic rock in the chaparral fastness sat Manzanita Canby and Falcon the Flunky.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Overhead the sun was creeping slowly toward the zenith.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading From time to time the girl lifted the binoculars from her lap and trained them on Squawtooth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Overhead the sun was creeping slowly toward the zenith.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They’ve not found any of our messages,” she said, “or else things wouldn’t be so quiet down there, with noon almost here.
zenithnounUS /ˈziːnəθ/
the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Overhead the sun was creeping slowly toward the zenith.
