used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
agaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
basesnounUS /ˈbeɪsəz/
plural of “base” — installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
bodilyadverbUS /ˈbɑːdəli/
in bodily form
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
cactinounUS /ˈkæktaɪ/
plural of “cactus” — any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
circletnoun
a small circle
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
crownsnounUS /kraʊnz/
plural of “crown” — the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
flower-massed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
heavenwardadjective
directed toward heaven or the sky
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
ten 10s
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
indistinctadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
lancelikeadjective
(of a leaf shape) shaped like a lance head; narrow and tapering to a pointed apex
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
palingnoun
a fence made of upright pickets
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
parallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
pricklyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪkli/
very irritable
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
punishingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/
resulting in punishment
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
radiatingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdieɪtɪŋ/
diverging from a common point
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
in the near future
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
SpectraladjectiveUS /ˈspektrəl/
of or relating to a spectrum
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
spinyadjectiveUS /ˈspaɪni/
having spines
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
the season of growth
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
stemsnounUS /stemz/
plural of “stem” — (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
not in physical motion
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
swordsnounUS /sɔːrdz/
plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
tent-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
push forcefully
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
directed up
From this reading Giant cacti, ghostly, bulky, indistinct, grotesque in their erect, parallel columns reached upward to a height seven times that of a tall man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
weakeningnounUS /ˈwiːkənɪŋ/
becoming weaker
From this reading Spectral agaves, flinging their tent-shaped crowns heavenward, seemed to spring bodily from the radiating circlet of spiny swords at their bases, their slender stems still lost in the weakening darkness.
(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 The penetrating cold of the dark hours was soon to die and give place to a punishing heat well above the hundred mark.
WELL-KNOWNadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading WELL-KNOWN STRANGERS The desert and a paling eastern sky.
in or at the place that
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
yuccas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pale spots near the ground showed where flower-massed yuccas thrust up, lancelike, from their slender, prickly leaves.
