adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
beatverbUS /biːt/
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
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 The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
BolivarnounUS /ˈbɑːləvər/
the basic unit of money in Venezuela; equal to 100 centimos
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
branchesnounUS /ˈbræntʃəz/
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
buzzardsnounUS /ˈbʌzərdz/
plural of “buzzard” — a New World vulture that is common in South America and Central America and the southern United States
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
centrenounUS /ˈsentər/
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
conspiratorsnounUS /kənˈspɪrətərz/
plural of “conspirator” — a member of a conspiracy
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
disusenounUS /dɪˈsjuːs/
the state of something that has been unused and neglected
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
fartheradjectiveUS /ˈfɑːrðər/
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
grass-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
hangingnounUS /ˈhæŋɪŋ/
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
heronounUS /ˈhɪroʊ/
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
hillnounUS /hɪl/
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
leavesnounUS /liːvz/
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/
the light of the Moon
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
murmuringnounUS /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
held or filled or in use
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
Olancho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
overrunverbUS /ˈoʊvərrʌn/
invade in great numbers
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
pedestalnounUS /ˈpedəstəl/
a support or foundation
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
pickedverbUS /pɪkt/
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
PlazanounUS /ˈplɑːzə/
a public square with room for pedestrians
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
railingnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋ/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
republicnounUS /riˈpʌblək/
a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
signnounUS /saɪn/
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
sleepingnounUS /ˈsliːpɪŋ/
the state of being asleep
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
statuenounUS /ˈstætʃuː/
a sculpture representing a human or animal
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
suburbsnounUS /ˈsʌbərbz/
plural of “suburb” — a residential district located on the outskirts of a city
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
surroundedadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪd/
confined on all sides
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The iron railing that had once surrounded it was broken down, and the branches of the trees near were black with sleeping buzzards.
turfnounUS /tɜːrf/
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
TwonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
underbrushnounUS /ˈʌndərbrʌʃ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
VenezuelanounUS /ˌvenɪzˈweɪlə/
a republic in northern South America on the Caribbean; achieved independence from Spain in 1811; rich in oil
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
walksnounUS /wɔːks/
plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The houses about it had fallen into disuse, and the few that were still occupied at the time Clay entered it showed no sign of life.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Clay picked his way over the grass-grown paths to the statue of Bolivar, the hero of the sister republic of Venezuela, which still stood on its pedestal in a tangle of underbrush and hanging vines.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Two great palms reared themselves in the moonlight at either side, and beat their leaves together in the night wind, whispering and murmuring together like two living conspirators.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Plaza Bolivar stood in what had once been the centre of the fashionable life of Olancho, but the town had moved farther up the hill, and it was now far in the suburbs, its walks neglected and its turf overrun with weeds.
