ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
archedadjectiveUS /ɑːrtʃt/
constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
bareadjectiveUS /ber/
completely unclothed
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
beastnounUS /biːst/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
brazenadjectiveUS /ˈbreɪzən/
unrestrained by convention or propriety
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
cattlenounUS /ˈkætəl/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
criedverbUS /kraɪd/
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
damsnounUS /dæmz/
plural of “dam” — a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
diedverbUS /daɪd/
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
droughtnounUS /draʊt/
a shortage of rainfall
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
eighteen-sixty-two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
farmverbUS /fɑːrm/
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
foodnounUS /fuːd/
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
hags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
heavenwardadjective
directed toward heaven or the sky
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
karoo-bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
MannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
milk-bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
monthnounUS /mʌnθ/
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
ovennounUS /ˈʌvən/
kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
pitilessadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtiləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
pointedadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntɪd/
having a point
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
roofnounUS /ruːf/
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/
only a very short time before
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
searchverbUS /sɜːrtʃ/
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
sheepnounUS /ʃiːp/
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
shrivelledadjective
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
tottered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the farm, day after day, month after month, the water in the dams fell lower and lower; the sheep died in the fields; the cattle, scarcely able to crawl, tottered as they moved from spot to spot in search of food.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Man and beast turned their eyes to the pitiless sky, that like the roof of some brazen oven arched overhead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
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 From end to end of the land the earth cried for water.
WeeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Week after week, month after month, the sun looked down from the cloudless sky, till the karoo-bushes were leafless sticks, broken into the earth, and the earth itself was naked and bare; and only the milk-bushes, like old hags, pointed their shrivelled fingers heavenward, praying for the rain that never came.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading At last came the year of the great drought, the year of eighteen-sixty-two.
