used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "'TIS ONLY A SNOWBANK'S TEARS, I WEEN."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
barrensnounUS /ˈbærənz/
plural of “barren” — an uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
cattle-teams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
drovesnounUS /droʊvz/
plural of “drove” — a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
flintyadjectiveUS /ˈflɪnti/
containing flint
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
foot-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
foot-sore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
gravellyadjectiveUS /ˈɡrævəli/
abounding in small stones
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "'TIS ONLY A SNOWBANK'S TEARS, I WEEN."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
lamenounUS /leɪm/
someone who doesn't understand what is going on
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
mergedadjectiveUS /mɜːrdʒd/
formed or united into a whole
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
and nothing more
From this reading "'TIS ONLY A SNOWBANK'S TEARS, I WEEN."
the local environment
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
poundedverbUS /ˈpaʊndɪd/
past form of “pound” — hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
RockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
skinnedadjectiveUS /skɪnd/
having skin of a specified kind
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
SNOWBANK'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'TIS ONLY A SNOWBANK'S TEARS, I WEEN."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading "'TIS ONLY A SNOWBANK'S TEARS, I WEEN."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading "'TIS ONLY A SNOWBANK'S TEARS, I WEEN."
precisely as stated
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We are now approaching the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.
WEEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'TIS ONLY A SNOWBANK'S TEARS, I WEEN."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The roads are hard and flinty, like pounded glass, which were making some of the cattle-teams and droves very lame and foot-sore.
at the time that
From this reading When one got so it could not walk, it was killed and skinned.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The fertile plains through which we have been passing are being merged into rocky hills, the level parts being mostly gravelly barrens.
