used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The breeze had died away and a deathlike stillness hung in the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The breeze had died away and a deathlike stillness hung in the air.
awesomeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːsəm/
inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
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 eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The breeze had died away and a deathlike stillness hung in the air.
BudnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
CyclonesnounUS /sɪˈkloʊnz/
plural of “cyclone” — (meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
deathlikeadjective
having the physical appearance of death
From this reading The breeze had died away and a deathlike stillness hung in the air.
DELTON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The breeze had died away and a deathlike stillness hung in the air.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
expandedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspændəd/
increased in extent or size or bulk or scope
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The breeze had died away and a deathlike stillness hung in the air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
engage in
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
ominous-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/
plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
with speed
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
RETURNSnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading The breeze had died away and a deathlike stillness hung in the air.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Bud, though he had lived the greater part of his life on the range, had never seen one.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
at the time that
From this reading DELTON RETURNS Cyclones are somewhat rare visitors on the prairies, but when they do come they make up for lost time.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The eastern sky was covered with a blanket of black, ominous-looking clouds, which quickly expanded and filled the whole heavens with their darkness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now he stood with his face to the east, drinking in the awesome sight.
