used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
aridadjectiveUS /ˈærəd/
lacking sufficient water or rainfall
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
chargingverbUS /ˈtʃɑːrdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “charge” — to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
dunesnounUS /duːnz/
plural of “dune” — a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
eightyadjectiveUS /ˈeɪti/
being ten more than seventy
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
moving swiftly
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
god'snounUS /ɡɑːdz/
possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
grindingnounUS /ˈɡraɪndɪŋ/
material resulting from the process of grinding
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
humansnounUS /ˈhjuːmənz/
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
hurricanenounUS /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
hurtlingverbUS /ˈhɜːrtlɪŋ/
-ing form of “hurtle” — move with or as if with a rushing sound
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
Ladna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
machine-less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
maddeningly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
used to form the superlative
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
and nothing more
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
punyadjectiveUS /ˈpjuːni/
inferior in strength or significance
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
with speed
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
repetitiveadjectiveUS /rɪˈpetɪtɪv/
repetitive and persistent
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
roamedverbUS /roʊmd/
past form of “roam” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
scudded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
snarlingverbUS /ˈsnɑːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “snarl” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
swoopnounUS /swuːp/
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
terrapinnoun
any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading That they suddenly could become the most dangerous things alive must surely be some dead god's joke.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
Torcred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
treadsnounUS /tredz/
plural of “tread” — a step in walking or running
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
troughnounUS /trɔːf/
a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading And two puny machine-less humans like Torcred and Ladna should die quickly.
unevenadjectiveUS /əˈniːvən/
not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The terrapin was traveling eighty miles an hour--far too fast for such uneven country.
wave-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
windwardnounUS /ˈwɪndwərd/
the direction from which the wind is coming
From this reading Over maddeningly repetitive dunes it scudded, rising with a swoop to each windward slope and hurtling clear of the ground beyond each wave-like crest, to plunge through the trough in a hurricane of flying sand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Only savage engines roamed that arid world, charging one another with snarling guns beneath those grinding treads.
