adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
AfricanadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
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 dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading In one spot only was the solemn monotony of the plain broken.
bushesnounUS /ˈbʊʃəz/
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
centrenounUS /ˈsentər/
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading Near the centre a small solitary kopje rose.
coatingnounUS /ˈkoʊtɪŋ/
a thin layer covering something
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
finger-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
inchesnounUS /ˈɪntʃəz/
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
karoo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
kopjenoun
a small hill rising up from the African veld
From this reading Near the centre a small solitary kopje rose.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
leavesnounUS /liːvz/
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
lonelyadjectiveUS /ˈloʊnli/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
milk-bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
monotonynounUS /məˈnɑːtəni/
the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety
From this reading In one spot only was the solemn monotony of the plain broken.
moonnounUS /muːn/
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
NearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Near the centre a small solitary kopje rose.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one spot only was the solemn monotony of the plain broken.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading In one spot only was the solemn monotony of the plain broken.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
pouredverbUS /pɔːrd/
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Near the centre a small solitary kopje rose.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
skirtedverbUS /ˈskɜːrtɪd/
past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Near the centre a small solitary kopje rose.
solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading In one spot only was the solemn monotony of the plain broken.
solitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləteri/
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading Near the centre a small solitary kopje rose.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In one spot only was the solemn monotony of the plain broken.
stuntedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌntɪd/
inferior in size or quality
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Watch.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In one spot only was the solemn monotony of the plain broken.
WatchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/
look attentively
From this reading The Watch.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The full African moon poured down its light from the blue sky into the wide, lonely plain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The dry, sandy earth, with its coating of stunted karoo bushes a few inches high, the low hills that skirted the plain, the milk-bushes with their long finger-like leaves, all were touched by a weird and an almost oppressive beauty as they lay in the white light.
