used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
accurateadjectiveUS /ˈækjərət/
conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
in the past
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
AustraliannounUS /ɔːˈstreɪljən/
a native or inhabitant of Australia
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
convergingnounUS /kənˈvɜːrdʒɪŋ/
the act of converging (coming closer)
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
dewyadjectiveUS /ˈduːi/
wet with dew
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
draughtsman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
EARLYadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
divisible by two
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
fullernounUS /ˈfʊlər/
United States jurist and chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1833-1910)
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
hill-top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
immediately past
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
the act of departing
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
most important element
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
mobnounUS /mɑːb/
a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
OrangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
ponynounUS /ˈpoʊniː/
a range horse of the western United States
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
preciseadjectiveUS /prɪˈsaɪs/
sharply exact or accurate or delimited
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
spell-boundadjective
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
the season of growth
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
in the direction of
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
townshipnounUS /ˈtaʊnʃɪp/
an administrative division of a county
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
twenty-twonounUS /ˈtwentituː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-one and one
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The last few feet of the ascent being too much for the pony, I dismounted and, leaving him behind, scrambled up a short, rocky chimney to the summit.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
a vivid mental image
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
wallabynounUS /ˈwɑːləbiː/
any of various small or medium-sized kangaroos; often brightly colored
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
whereaboutsnounUS /ˈwerəbaʊts/
the general location where something is
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
white-washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles and miles away the white-washed roofs of the township of Orange gleamed brightly in the clear morning sunshine; the main roads converging upon the town showed sharp and distinct from out their setting in the rolling bush.
showing curiosity
From this reading The wallaby were nowhere to be seen; but my wondering eyes were held spell-bound by such a vision as I had never even dreamed of.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The picture was beautiful: precise and accurate as the work of a draughtsman’s pen, but fuller of meaning than any map.
a late time of life
From this reading EARLY DAYS Some twenty-two years ago, on a dewy spring morning in October, I urged my panting pony towards a hill-top in the Australian bush, the better to spy out the whereabouts of a mob of wallaby.
