used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
accompaniesverbUS /əˈkʌmpəniz/
third-person singular of “accompany” — be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All at once the trail had stood straight on end.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
aromaticadjectiveUS /ˌerəˈmætɪk/
(chemistry) of or relating to or containing one or more benzene rings
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All at once the trail had stood straight on end.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
cañon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
cleft-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
easternmostadjective
farthest to the east
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading All at once the trail had stood straight on end.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
set up or found
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
grandlyadverbUS /ˈɡrændli/
in a grand manner
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
Harney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
ten 10s
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
mattedadjective
tangled in a dense mass
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
mesanounUS /ˈmeɪsə/
flat tableland with steep edges
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
needlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/
plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All at once the trail had stood straight on end.
on one occasion
From this reading All at once the trail had stood straight on end.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
plateaunounUS /plæˈtoʊ/
a relatively flat highland
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
poniesnounUS /ˈpoʊniz/
plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
soaredverbUS /sɔːrd/
past form of “soar” — rise rapidly
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Beyond the easternmost edge of the plateau stood great spires of stone, a dozen in all, several hundred feet high, and of solid granite.
a state of social isolation
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
SPIRESnounUS /spaɪrz/
plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
splashedadjectiveUS /splæʃt/
(of a fluid) having been propelled about in flying drops or masses
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading All at once the trail had stood straight on end.
successive (without a break)
From this reading All at once the trail had stood straight on end.
sublimeadjectiveUS /səˈblaɪm/
inspiring awe
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
very small
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
verdantadjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrdənt/
characterized by abundance of verdure
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE SPIRES OF STONE One afternoon they had pushed over back of Harney, up a very steep little trail in a very tiny cleft-like cañon, verdant and cool.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They soared up grandly into the open blue, like so many cathedral spires, drawing about them that air of solitude and stillness which accompanies always the sublime in Nature.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The ponies scrambled up somehow, and they found themselves on a narrow open _mesa_ splashed with green moss and matted with an aromatic covering of pine needles.
