adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/
past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
blewverbUS /bluː/
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/
come together as in a cluster or flock
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
curlingnounUS /ˈkɜːrlɪŋ/
a game played on ice in which heavy stones with handles are slid toward a target
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
deeplyadverbUS /ˈdiːpli/
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
drabadjectiveUS /dræb/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
dwelling-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
eddying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
HanovernounUS /ˈhænoʊvər/
a port city in northwestern Germany; formerly a member of the Hanseatic League
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
haphazardadjectiveUS /hæpˈhæzərd/
dependent upon or characterized by chance
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
LandnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/
most important element
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
mistverbUS /mɪst/
become covered with mist
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
NebraskanounUS /nəˈbræskə/
a midwestern state on the Great Plains
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
NonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
northnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
overnightadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈnaɪt/
during or for the length of one night
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
permanencenounUS /ˈpɜːrmənəns/
the property of being able to exist for an indefinite duration
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
ranverbUS /ræn/
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
ruttedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌtɪd/
full of ruts
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
snowflakesnounUS /ˈsnoʊfleɪks/
plural of “snowflake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
sodnounUS /sɑːd/
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
southnounUS /saʊθ/
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
squatverbUS /skwɑːt/
sit on one's heels
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
stationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/
successive (without a break)
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
strayingadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪɪŋ/
unable to find your way
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
tableland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A mist of fine snowflakes was curling and eddying about the cluster of low drab buildings huddled on the gray prairie, under a gray sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
WildadjectiveUS /waɪld/
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.
windyadjectiveUS /ˈwɪndi/
abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
yardnounUS /jɑːrd/
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The main street was a deeply rutted road, now frozen hard, which ran from the squat red railway station and the grain “elevator” at the north end of the town to the lumber yard and the horse pond at the south end.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading The Wild Land I One January day, thirty years ago, the little town of Hanover, anchored on a windy Nebraska tableland, was trying not to be blown away.
