used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Sandy's lean face was anxious.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
canyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
cliffnounUS /klɪf/
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It was close to seven o'clock.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
crumbledverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəld/
past form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
droopedverbUS /druːpt/
past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
floodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
brought together in one place
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
a young female
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
GOATSnounUS /ɡoʊts/
plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
inuredadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnjʊrd/
made tough by habitual exposure
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was close to seven o'clock.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Sandy's lean face was anxious.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was close to seven o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
go across or through
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
put a saddle on
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
Sandy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sandy's lean face was anxious.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading It was close to seven o'clock.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
stainingnounUS /ˈsteɪnɪŋ/
(histology) the use of a dye to color specimens for microscopic study
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
tawnyadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːni/
of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading THE PASS OF THE GOATS In the throat of the gorge the sun shone red on the tawny cliffs.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading The girl drooped in her seat tired from the long climb, not yet inured to the saddle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was close to seven o'clock.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was close to seven o'clock.
weatheredadjectiveUS /ˈweðərd/
worn by exposure to the weather
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
in or at the place that
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
but in spite of that
From this reading The trail, a scant four feet wide at its best, with crumbled, weathered margin, crept along the face of the cliff above a deep canyon where the night shadows had already gathered in a purple flood, slowly rising as the rays of the setting sun shifted upward, not yet staining the summit.
