used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
balustradenoun
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
boulevardnounUS /ˈbʊləvɑːrd/
a wide street or thoroughfare
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
Dorset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
drainedadjectiveUS /dreɪnd/
emptied or exhausted of (as by drawing off e.g. water or other liquid)
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
fernnounUS /fɜːrn/
any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
gradenounUS /ɡreɪd/
a body of students who are taught together
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/
compatibility in opinion and action
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
hitsnounUS /hɪts/
plural of “hit” — (baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
needlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/
plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
northeastwardnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːstwərd/
the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
parallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
in the near future
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
StrewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
surmountedadjectiveUS /sərˈmaʊntɪd/
having something on top
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
possessing sweep
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
a special situation
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
tilenounUS /taɪl/
a flat thin rectangular slab (as of fired clay or rubber or linoleum) used to cover surfaces
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
tonedadjectiveUS /toʊnd/
having or characterized or distinguished by tone or a specific tone; often used in combination
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading It was covered brown and soft with a carpet of fir needles, and arose in an easy grade above the sea, turning northeastward into the mountains.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It was supported below by a stone wall, surmounted by a balustrade, and was protected from the slipping of the mountain, at certain points, by a parallel stone wall equally massive.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The road into which they presently came astonished the Duke of Dorset.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
wisps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was sixty feet wide, smooth as a boulevard and drained with tile.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Strewn with the foliage of autumn, the fir needles, wisps of yellow fern, hits of branches swept together against the stone wall by the wind, it seemed a thing toned and softened into harmony with the wilderness through which it ran.
