used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
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 We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
buxomadjectiveUS /ˈbʌksəm/
(of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
cactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/
any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
cemeterynounUS /ˈseməteri/
a tract of land used for burials
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
donkeysnounUS /ˈdɑːŋkiz/
plural of “donkey” — the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
dynastiesnounUS /ˈdaɪnəstiz/
plural of “dynasty” — a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
eighteenthadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the seventeenth in position
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
one or the other of two
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
divisible by two
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
LuxornounUS /ˈlʌksər/
a city in central Egypt on the east bank of the Nile that is a center for visitors to the ruins of and around Thebes
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
NilenounUS /naɪl/
the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
not any; not one
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading Life has no charm in this dreary region.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
ROYALadjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
sailboatnounUS /ˈseɪlboʊt/
a small sailing vessel; usually with a single mast
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
shrubnounUS /ʃrʌb/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
stingyadjectiveUS /ˈstɪndʒi/
unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.)
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
sure-enoughadjective
(used informally especially for emphasis) real or genuine
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
TOMBSnounUS /tuːmz/
plural of “tomb” — a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
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 narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
twentiethnounUS /ˈtwentiəθ/
position 20 in a countable series of things
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
utternessnoun
the quality of being complete or utter or extreme
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading ROYAL TOMBS AND OTHER PLACES OF AMUSEMENT One morning we rode across the Nile from Luxor in a broad and buxom sailboat, climbed on our donkeys, and rode to the west.
wheatnounUS /wiːt/
annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
in or at the place that
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading We followed the narrow road through the fresh fields of wheat and alfalfa until we struck the desert, and then we took to a dusty trail which leads to a winding valley, where the kings of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties are being dug up.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This narrow valley, with the steep hills rising on either side, is the sure-enough utterness of desolation; not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass, not even a stingy little cactus.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading No wonder the old kings picked out this valley for a cemetery.
