used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The evening air was hot and oppressive.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The evening air was hot and oppressive.
bitternnoun
relatively small compact tawny-brown heron with nocturnal habits and a booming cry; found in marshes
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
bunyip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading The swish-swish of wild cats and the cries of opossums were heard.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The swish-swish of wild cats and the cries of opossums were heard.
curlew's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening air was hot and oppressive.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
gum-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The swish-swish of wild cats and the cries of opossums were heard.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The evening air was hot and oppressive.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
opossums
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The swish-swish of wild cats and the cries of opossums were heard.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading The evening air was hot and oppressive.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
quivered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
rangesnounUS /ˈreɪndʒəz/
plural of “range” — an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
swish-swish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The swish-swish of wild cats and the cries of opossums were heard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The evening air was hot and oppressive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The evening air was hot and oppressive.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading A weird boom, from bittern or bunyip, came from the swamp, and the curlew's solemn call echoed in the ranges.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The swish-swish of wild cats and the cries of opossums were heard.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The old gum-tree, which grew over the homestead, quivered, and turned the edges of its leaves to catch the silvery light of a new moon, which cut its way across the sky.
Whisperings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The swish-swish of wild cats and the cries of opossums were heard.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Whisperings of a north wind came over the hills.
