used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
bundlesnounUS /ˈbʌndəlz/
plural of “bundle” — a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
buttenounUS /bjuːt/
a hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding region; has a flat top and sloping sides
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
clusteringnounUS /ˈklʌstərɪŋ/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
coolingnounUS /ˈkuːlɪŋ/
the process of becoming cooler; a falling temperature
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
the first light of day
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
the organ of sight
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
freshnessnounUS /ˈfreʃnəs/
the property of being pure and fresh (as if newly made); not stale or deteriorated
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
grass-ringed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
lighteningnounUS /ˈlaɪtənɪŋ/
descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy; the fetus is said to have dropped
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
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 A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
come together
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
not in physical motion
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
oblivionnounUS /əˈblɪviən/
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
palingnoun
a fence made of upright pickets
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
select carefully from a group
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
compacted by ironing
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
rimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading A long butte, a bristling outline on the paling north, ran out from a crumpled clustering of hills, and the road bent to meet it.
sandsnounUS /sændz/
the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
sapphireadjectiveUS /ˈsæfaɪər/
of something having the color of a blue sapphire
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
cut with a saw
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
moving very fast
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
having come into contact
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
transparentadjectiveUS /trænˈsperənt/
transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
undoverbUS /ənˈduː/
cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading They drank and then slept, sinking to oblivion as they dropped on the ground, not waiting to undo their blankets or pick out comfortable spots.
wakeningnoun
the act of waking
From this reading A slowly lightening sky, beneath it the transparent sapphire of the desert wakening to the dawn, and cutting the blue expanse the line of the new trail.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The air came from it touched with a cooling freshness, and as they pressed toward it they saw the small, swift shine of water, a little pool, grass-ringed, with silver threads creeping to the sands.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The sun, lifting a bright eye above the earth's rim, shot its long beams over their motionless figures, "bundles of life," alone in a lifeless world.
