adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
abruptnessnounUS /əˈbrʌptnəs/
an abrupt discourteous manner
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
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 Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
beatenadjectiveUS /ˈbiːtən/
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
broadcastverbUS /ˈbrɔːdkæst/
broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
clothes-brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
gypsum-beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
increasedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːst/
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
interminablyadverbUS /ˈɪntərmɪnæbli/
all the time; seemingly without stopping
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
losingverbUS /ˈluːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But now all was black, sand, alkali, gypsum-beds, for the night had fallen.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
rocksnounUS /rɑːks/
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
ruttedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌtɪd/
full of ruts
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
sage-brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
sandnounUS /sænd/
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
scarfnounUS /skɑːrf/
a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
showingnounUS /ˈʃoʊɪŋ/
the display of a motion picture
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
skirtingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːrtɪŋ/
being all around the edges; enclosing
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
slippedverbUS /slɪpt/
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
sownadjectiveUS /soʊn/
sprinkled with seed
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
stirsnounUS /stɜːrz/
plural of “stir” — a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
streakedadjectiveUS /striːkt/
marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
TOGETHERadverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
trailnounUS /treɪl/
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
tuftsnounUS /tʌfts/
plural of “tuft” — a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
varicoloredadjective
having a variety of colors
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
waververbUS /ˈweɪvər/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Before final darkness came, the trail itself was varicolored, sometimes white with alkali, sometimes skirting low hills whose sides showed a deep blue, streaked with crimson.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading As darkness increased, the trail seemed to waver before their eyes like a gray scarf that the wind stirs on the ground.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On either side of it, the nature of the country varied with strange abruptness, now an unbroken stretch of dead sage-brush showing like isolated tufts in a gigantic clothes-brush--suddenly, a wilderness of white sand shifting as the wind rose--again, broken rocks sown broadcast.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading TOGETHER Before them, the trail, beaten and rutted, stretched interminably, losing itself in the darkness before it slipped over the rounded margin of the world.
