used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading ADVENTURE Sheila stood and drew breath.
alfalfanounUS /ˌælˈfælfə/
important European leguminous forage plant with trifoliate leaves and blue-violet flowers grown widely as a pasture and hay crop
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
alkalinounUS /ˈælkəlaɪ/
any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ADVENTURE Sheila stood and drew breath.
aspennounUS /ˈæspən/
any of several trees of the genus Populus having leaves on flattened stalks so that they flutter in the lightest wind
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading ADVENTURE Sheila stood and drew breath.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
cabinsnounUS /ˈkæbənz/
plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
cottonwoodnounUS /ˈkɑːtənwʊd/
any of several North American trees of the genus Populus having a tuft of cottony hairs on the seed
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
dotsnounUS /dɑːts/
plural of “dot” — a very small circular shape
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading ADVENTURE Sheila stood and drew breath.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
remove the dust from
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
fringesnounUS /ˈfrɪndʒɪz/
plural of “fringe” — the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
coins made of gold
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
grovesnounUS /ɡroʊvz/
United States general who served as military director of the atomic bomb project (1896-1970)
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
and nothing more
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
held up in the air
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
lushadjectiveUS /lʌʃ/
produced or growing in extreme abundance
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
Millings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
oatnounUS /oʊt/
annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: “oats”)
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
peaknounUS /piːk/
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
purple-greenadjective
of green tinged with purple
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
ranchesnounUS /ˈræntʃəz/
plural of “ranch” — farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADVENTURE Sheila stood and drew breath.
silvery-greenadjective
of something having a color that is a light shiny green
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading ADVENTURE Sheila stood and drew breath.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
up to a particular time
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Down the valley the river flickered, lifted by its brightness above the hollow that held it, till it seemed just hung there like a string of jewels.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Here and there were little dots of ranches, visible more by their vivid oat and alfalfa fields than by their small log cabins.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This was different from the hard, dull gold and alkali dust of the Millings country: here were silvery-green miles of range, and purple-green miles of pine forest, and lovely lighter fringes and groves of cottonwood and aspen trees.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The shadow of the high peak, in the lap of which she stood, poured itself eastward across the warm, lush, narrow land.
