used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
anglingnounUS /ˈæŋɡlɪŋ/
fishing with a hook and line (and usually a pole)
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
for the reason that
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
bespokeadjectiveUS /bʊˈspoʊk/
(of clothing) custom-made
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
cactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/
any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
copper-red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
destinationnounUS /ˌdestəˈneɪʃən/
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
dotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
edgedadjectiveUS /edʒd/
having a specified kind of border or edge
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
one or the other of two
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
GAMBLEverbUS /ˈɡæmbəl/
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
grotesques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
haciendanounUS /ˌhæsiˈendə/
a large estate in Spanish-speaking countries
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
landmarksnounUS /ˈlændmɑːrks/
plural of “landmark” — the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
not any; not one
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
Ollanoun
leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
Ortez
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
Pete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
shimmeringverbUS /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
sky-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
soapweednoun
tall arborescent yucca of southwestern United States
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
stalksnounUS /stɔːks/
plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/
past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
very small
From this reading The miles between the Olla and that tiny dot on the horizon--the Ortez hacienda--seemed endless, because of no pronounced landmarks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beyond, to the south, lay a sea of shimmering space, clear to the light blue that edged the sky-line.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading A GAMBLE On either side of a faint trail rose the dreary, angling grotesques of the cactus, and the dried and dead stalks of the soapweed.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The afternoon sun showed copper-red through a faint haze which bespoke a change of weather.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Pete surmised that it would be dark long before they reached their destination.
