used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
arcnounUS /ɑːrk/
electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
the act of burning something
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
drummernounUS /ˈdrʌmər/
someone who plays a drum
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
encircledadjectiveUS /ɪnˈsɜːrkəld/
confined on all sides
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
focusnounUS /ˈfoʊkəs/
the concentration of attention or energy on something
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
galledadjective
painful from having the skin abraded
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
junctionnounUS /ˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
the place where two or more things come together
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
immediately past
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
engage in
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
metallicadjectiveUS /məˈtælɪk/
containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
attach to a support
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
NegronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
OrinoconounUS /ˌɔːrəˈnoʊkoʊ/
a South American river 1,500 miles long; flows into the South Atlantic
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
particularitynounUS /pərˌtɪkjəˈlærəti/
the quality of being particular and pertaining to a specific case or instance
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
peonsnounUS /ˈpiːənz/
plural of “peon” — a laborer who is obliged to do menial work
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
RionounUS /ˈriːoʊ/
the former capital and 2nd largest city of Brazil; chief Brazilian port; famous as a tourist attraction
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
scrutinizeverbUS /ˈskruːtənaɪz/
to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
segmentsnounUS /ˈseɡmənts/
plural of “segment” — one of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
shimmerverbUS /ˈʃɪmər/
shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
spirenounUS /spaɪr/
a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
steeplenounUS /ˈstiːpəl/
a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
Strawbridge's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
sweat-caked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
thirstingverbUS /ˈθɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “thirst” — feel the need to drink
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
very small
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last Strawbridge's adventure had come to a focus.
upshotnounUS /ˈʌpʃɑːt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading So this was the upshot of all their riding and burning and thirsting--for these sweat-caked peons to advance against a church steeple!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That thin, shining arc was the junction of the Orinoco and the Rio Negro.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He sat, galled and dusty, on his English mount and stared at the distant metallic gleam which encircled the southern and western segments of the horizon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Against its shimmer arose a single spire, so tiny and so far away that the drummer had to scrutinize it with particularity before he could make it out at all.
