used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
quickly and without warning
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
at or in the front
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
aidsnounUS /eɪdz/
a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
(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 Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/
past form of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
completely unclothed
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
bluesnounUS /bluːz/
a type of folksong that originated among Black Americans at the beginning of the 20th century; has a melancholy sound from repeated use of blue notes
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
bouldersnounUS /ˈboʊldərz/
plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
one or the other of two
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
divisible by two
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
apart from; not including
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
furrowedadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːroʊd/
having long narrow shallow depressions (as grooves or wrinkles) in the surface
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
hazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
incrediblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
kitenounUS /kaɪt/
a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
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 It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
madders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
mergingnounUS /ˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
the act of joining together as one
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
middaynounUS /ˈmɪddeɪ/
the middle of the day
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
mountaineeringnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪnɪrɪŋ/
the activity of climbing a mountain
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
not any; not one
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
Payindah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
purplesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəlz/
plural of “purple” — a purple color or pigment
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
redsnounUS /redz/
plural of “red” — red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
sahibnoun
formerly a term of respect for important white Europeans in colonial India; used after the name
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
scarredadjectiveUS /skɑːrd/
deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
having a supporting base
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
tangi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
toweredverbUS /ˈtaʊərd/
past form of “tower” — appear very large or occupy a commanding position
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
wall-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We two were standing on the edge of the sand looking up a short slope of rock, tumbled with big boulders and smaller stones that ended abruptly at the foot of the wall-like cliff.
warmernounUS /ˈwɔːrmər/
device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
Waziristan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GATE “Look, sahib, the hills open in front like a Waziristan _tangi_,” said Payindah, pointing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If life there were ahead, it must lie all on the other side of this great barrier that stretched away on either hand as far as we could see, merging from dead lifeless brown to warmer reds and madders and purples, and then finally to hazy blues as the distance softened the hard outlines.
wheelingnounUS /ˈwiːlɪŋ/
a city in the northern panhandle of West Virginia on the Ohio river
From this reading Nor was there any sign of life in all the expanse of bare brown rock that rose before us, not even a wheeling kite in the sky.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was getting on for midday, and we had nearly reached the wall of hills, which now towered, grim and threatening, above us, a long line of sheer cliff, incredibly high; and, though the face was scarred and furrowed, there seemed to be no place where it could be ascended except in true mountaineering fashion with ropes and other aids.
