Chapter XVII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

a loud harsh or strident noise

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

without stop or interruption

From this reading The still, hot days and dust-storms continued until March.

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

plural of “crow” — black birds having a raucous call

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

demanding attention

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The still, hot days and dust-storms continued until March.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

remove the dust from

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The still, hot days and dust-storms continued until March.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

plural of “flock” — a church congregation guided by a pastor

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

unpleasantly stern

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading The still, hot days and dust-storms continued until March.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

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 summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

march in a procession

From this reading The still, hot days and dust-storms continued until March.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

in motion

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

not any; not one

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

above and across; more than

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading Cool changes blew over, but no rain fell.

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

plural of “route” — an established line of travel or access

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

not in physical motion

From this reading The still, hot days and dust-storms continued until March.

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

separate or cause to separate abruptly

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

needing moisture

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

up to a particular time

From this reading The still, hot days and dust-storms continued until March.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The summer Sophie left the Ridge was a long and dry one.

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading Through the heat came the baa-ing of sheep on the plains, moving in great flocks, weary and thirsty; the blaring of cattle; the harsh crying of crows following the flocks and waiting to tear the dead flesh from the bones of spent and drought-stricken beasts.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The stock routes were marked by the bleached bones of cattle and sheep which had fallen by the road, and the stench of rotting flesh blew with the hot winds and dust from the plains.