used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
amazingadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
move gently or carefully
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
divisible by two
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
gutteredverbUS /ˈɡʌtərd/
past form of “gutter” — burn unsteadily, feebly, or low; flicker
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
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 There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
engage in
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
MESAnounUS /ˈmeɪsə/
flat tableland with steep edges
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
porchesnounUS /ˈpɔːrtʃəz/
plural of “porch” — a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
promontorynoun
a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
proportionsnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
get rid of
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
shrubnounUS /ʃrʌb/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
sparselyadverbUS /ˈspɑːrsli/
in a sparse way
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they drew nearer the house the scene opened in a more domestic appearance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It stood solitary on its desert promontory, the bright sky behind it, not a shrub to ease its lines, not a barn or shed to make a rude background for its amazing proportions.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
in or at the place that
From this reading Native grass grew sparsely on the great table where it stood; rains had guttered the soil near its door.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading There was about it the air of an abandoned place, its long, gaunt porches open to wind and storm.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading THE HOUSE ON THE MESA Even more bleak than from a distance the house on the mesa appeared as the riders approached it up the winding road.
