used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
breakersnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
combers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
cupped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
curvesnounUS /kɜːrvz/
plural of “curve” — the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
dunesnounUS /duːnz/
plural of “dune” — a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
engulfingverbUS /ɪnˈɡʌlfɪŋ/
-ing form of “engulf” — devote (oneself) fully to
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
hollowsnounUS /ˈhɑːloʊz/
plural of “hollow” — a cavity or space in something
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
leewardnounUS /ˈliːwərd/
the direction in which the wind is blowing
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
mauveadjectiveUS /mɔːv/
of a pale to moderate greyish violet color
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
not any; not one
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
peaknounUS /piːk/
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
staticadjectiveUS /ˈstætɪk/
not in physical motion
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
tawnyadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːni/
of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading Like combers that never burst into spray, their static curves remained suspended above us, their tops bent back upon the leeward side, menacing, but never engulfing, the deep pools of purple shadows that lay beneath them.
toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/
of imposing height; especially standing out above others
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
vegetationnounUS /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən/
all the plant life in a particular region or period
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
a Caucasian
From this reading The sand was mauve in the hollows, and black upon white were the cupped dunes hung over their own heights.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading High hills, carved by the bitter salt winds into tawny breakers, reared towering heads, peak upon peak.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were like water that did not move, or mountains with no vegetation.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading A sea of yellow sand rose, wave on wave, around us.
