adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the brown of California and the brown of the East are two different things.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the brown of California and the brown of the East are two different things.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
cupnounUS /kʌp/
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But the brown of California and the brown of the East are two different things.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
divideverbUS /dɪˈvaɪd/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
EastnounUS /iːst/
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading But the brown of California and the brown of the East are two different things.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
HereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
islandsnounUS /ˈaɪləndz/
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/
of less size or importance
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
lookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
matnounUS /mæt/
a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
mountainsnounUS /ˈmaʊntənz/
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
plainlyadverbUS /ˈpleɪnli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
principlesnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəlz/
plural of “principle” — a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
runningadjectiveUS /ˈrʌnɪŋ/
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
suckverbUS /sʌk/
draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But the brown of California and the brown of the East are two different things.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/
exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/
urgently needed; absolutely necessary
From this reading Here is no snow or rain to mat down the grass, to suck out of it the vital principles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
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 Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We halted a moment on the ridge to look back over the lesser mountains and the distant ridge, beyond which the islands now showed plainly.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then we dropped down behind the divide into a cup valley containing a little meadow with running water on two sides of it and big pines above.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The meadow was brown, to be sure, as all typical California is at this time of year.
