used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
basaltnounUS /bəˈsɔːlt/
the commonest type of solidified lava; a dense dark grey fine-grained igneous rock that is composed chiefly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
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 The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
ethernounUS /ˈiːθər/
the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
hewnadjectiveUS /hjuːn/
cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
ten 10s
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the path were many steps hewn out of stone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
lakesnounUS /leɪks/
plural of “lake” — a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In the path were many steps hewn out of stone.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
opal-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
a course of conduct
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
pricklyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪkli/
very irritable
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
PsychenounUS /ˈsaɪki/
that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
cut with a saw
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading In the path were many steps hewn out of stone.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading In the path were many steps hewn out of stone.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
possessing sweep
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
thistlesnounUS /ˈθɪsəlz/
plural of “thistle” — any of numerous plants of the family Compositae and especially of the genera Carduus and Cirsium and Onopordum having prickly-edged leaves
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
the upper part of anything
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
villagesnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒəz/
plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Heavy masses of cactus grew on the side of the precipice, and over the leaves, prickly and round, Psyche saw the grassy valleys of the Kingdom of the Past, the villages, the towns, the river: a broad silver streak, and there, behind it, opal-like views, lakes in the sky, and quivering lines of ether.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the path were many steps hewn out of stone.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The castle had three hundred towers, which rose to the sky; along them swept the clouds.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading It was a narrow path, hewn out of the rocks, winding up the basalt mountain, where, high on the top, stood the castle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The path was steep, and covered with cactus and thistles.
