used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
(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 She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
burnishedadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrnɪʃt/
made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
caldronnoun
a very large pot that is used for boiling
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
ChandlernounUS /ˈtʃændlər/
United States writer of detective thrillers featuring the character of Philip Marlowe (1888-1959)
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
ditchesnounUS /ˈdɪtʃəz/
plural of “ditch” — a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading And for a week now the irrigation ditches had been dry.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading And for a week now the irrigation ditches had been dry.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
a young female
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
hotteradjectiveUS /ˈhɑːtər/
comparative of “hot” — 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 As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
hottestadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːtəst/
superlative of “hot” — 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 It had been a terrible day--the hottest of the summer.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
Imogene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
irrigationnounUS /ˌɪrəˈɡeɪʃən/
supplying dry land with water by means of ditches etc
From this reading And for a week now the irrigation ditches had been dry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
lidnounUS /lɪd/
either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
mulleinnoun
any of various plants of the genus Verbascum having large usually woolly leaves and terminal spikes of yellow or white or purplish flowers
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And for a week now the irrigation ditches had been dry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
rimmedadjectiveUS /rɪmd/
having a rim or a rim of a specified kind
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
sandhills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
shacknounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
stalkverbUS /stɔːk/
walk stiffly
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
not in physical motion
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It had been a terrible day--the hottest of the summer.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It had been a terrible day--the hottest of the summer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
To-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day the cotton leaves had wilted; and the girl had looked away from the fields all afternoon.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading And for a week now the irrigation ditches had been dry.
which person or people
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
wiltedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪltɪd/
(of plants) limp due to heat, loss of water, or disease
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would have made some wild outcry of relief if it had not been for her father, who still sat in the doorway of the shack, as he had all day, gray and bent like a dusty, wilted mullein stalk.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading As the sun, like a burnished lid to some hotter caldron, slid down behind the yellow sandhills that rimmed the desert, Imogene Chandler felt as though she must scream.
