Chapter XXXVIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

(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 The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

an orderly arrangement

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

on or to one side

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

shining intensely

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

of large size for its weight

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

plural of “cactus” — any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

of something having the color of copper

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

make more intense, stronger, or more marked

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

third-person singular of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

third-person singular of “develop” — make something new, such as a product or a mental or artistic creation

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

lying toward or situated in the east

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

come out into view, as from concealment

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

the organ of sight

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

plural of “flare” — a shape that spreads outward

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

low hardy much-branched spiny shrub common in alkaline soils of western America

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

in a softened tone

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

reduced to liquid form by heating

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

a particular point in time

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

abnormally large

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

plural of “paint” — a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

a shaky motion

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

plural of “reach” — the limits within which something can be effective

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

in the near future

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

of or relating to a spectrum

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

lacking natural ease

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

an unbroken series of events

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

in a swift manner

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

a physiological need to drink

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

up to a particular time

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Then out of the east comes a flash and a red, coppery sun flares above the horizon, molten, quivering, blinding; the cool of the night swiftly departs and a caldron-like heat bursts upon the plain.

the topmost one of two

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.

all the plant life in a particular region or period

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading As if curtains were drawn aside objects which a moment before were lost to sight in the darkness emerge out of the light like ghosts, bulky, indistinct, grotesque, and array themselves to complete the scene.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The silence seems to deepen and become strained, as if in fear of what is to come; the dark ground is now gray and tawny in places and the vegetation is plain to the eye.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The dark carpet which stretched away on all sides begins to show its characteristics and soon develops into greasewood brush.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THIRST The stars grow dim and a streak of color paints the eastern sky, sweeping through the upper reaches of the darkness and tingeing the earth's curtain until the dim gray light outlines spectral yuccas and twisted, grotesque cacti leaning in the hushed air like drunken sentries of some monstrous army.