used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
bowernounUS /ˈbaʊər/
a framework that supports climbing plants
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
contestantsnounUS /kənˈtestənts/
plural of “contestant” — a person who participates in competitions
From this reading At each end the contestants stood in a row, watching the track.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
distancesnounUS /ˈdɪstənsəz/
plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At each end the contestants stood in a row, watching the track.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At each end the contestants stood in a row, watching the track.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
ten 10s
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
imagesnounUS /ˈɪmədʒəz/
plural of “image” — an iconic mental representation
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
intrudersnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdərz/
plural of “intruder” — someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
the force of workers available
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
any competition
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading At each end the contestants stood in a row, watching the track.
runnersnounUS /ˈrʌnərz/
plural of “runner” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
in the near future
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At each end the contestants stood in a row, watching the track.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
carry out
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve
From this reading Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading At each end the contestants stood in a row, watching the track.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
which person or people
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
