used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
completely unclothed
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
bunchnounUS /bʌntʃ/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
BurtonnounUS /ˈbɜːrtən/
English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
clothing in general
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
danglingnounUS /ˈdæŋɡəlɪŋ/
the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
indistinguishableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
nibblingverbUS /ˈnɪbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “nibble” — bite off very small pieces
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
and nothing more
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
passengernounUS /ˈpæsəndʒər/
a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
poniesnounUS /ˈpoʊniz/
plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
the possibility of future success
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
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 bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
significantadjectiveUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important in effect or meaning
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
sunburntadjective
suffering from overexposure to direct sunlight
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
teepees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
create by training and teaching
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He went up to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went up to him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
at the time that
From this reading It was a barren prospect that greeted Burton when he stepped from the train at the station,--the only passenger to alight.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
a Caucasian
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
whittlingverbUS /ˈwɪtlɪŋ/
-ing form of “whittle” — cut small bits or pare shavings from
From this reading He was dangling his feet over the edge and whittling, and it was this occupation quite as much as his looks that made Burton guess him to be a white man.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
belonging to which person
From this reading A man whose clothes were of the indistinguishable color of the sunburnt grass was sitting on the edge of the platform which made the whole of the station.
windsweptadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnswept/
open to or swept by wind
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A bare windswept prairie; at a little distance, a colony of teepees, with fluttering rags and blankets blowing about, and a bunch of ponies nibbling at the coarse grass; and nothing to mark the hand of the white man but the rails which ran in gleaming and significant silence away.
