used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
(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 People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
alternatelyadverbUS /ˈɔːltərnətli/
in an alternating sequence or position
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
animatedadjectiveUS /ˈænəmeɪtɪd/
having life or vigor or spirit
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
Christianna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
remove the dust from
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
feverishlyadverbUS /ˈfevərɪʃli/
in a feverish manner
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
a young female
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
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 The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There seemed no soldiers in town.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
listlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪstləs/
lacking zest or vivacity
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
not any; not one
From this reading There seemed no soldiers in town.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
and nothing more
From this reading People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
parching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There seemed no soldiers in town.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There seemed no soldiers in town.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miriam, alternately listless and feverishly animated, explained matters to the mountain girl.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading There seemed no soldiers in town.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading People went by, all kinds of people, lacking only soldiers.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The day was parching, the sky hot blue steel, the wind that blew the dust through the streets like a breath from the sun himself.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN DAYS Miriam and Christianna sat at the window, watching.
