adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
baskingverbUS /ˈbæskɪŋ/
-ing form of “bask” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
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 scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
campnounUS /kæmp/
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
carvingsnounUS /ˈkɑːrvɪŋz/
plural of “carving” — a sculpture created by removing material (as wood or ivory or stone) in order to create a desired shape
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/
object formed by a mold
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
consciousadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnʃəs/
intentionally conceived
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
damnounUS /dæm/
a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
DossverbUS /dɔːs/
sleep in a convenient place
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
expectantadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektənt/
marked by eager anticipation
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
foodnounUS /fuːd/
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
gloriousadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːriəs/
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
gravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/
English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
herdedverbUS /ˈhɜːrdɪd/
past form of “herd” — cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
hottestadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːtəst/
superlative of “hot” — used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
JunenounUS /dʒuːn/
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
nearestadverbUS /ˈnɪrəst/
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
neededadjectiveUS /ˈniːdəd/
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
ostrichnounUS /ˈɔːstrɪtʃ/
a person who refuses to face reality or recognize the truth (a reference to the popular notion that the ostrich hides from danger by burying its head in the sand)
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
ostrichesnounUS /ˈɑːstrɪtʃɪz/
plural of “ostrich” — a person who refuses to face reality or recognize the truth (a reference to the popular notion that the ostrich hides from danger by burying its head in the sand)
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
pebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
peckingverbUS /ˈpekɪŋ/
-ing form of “peck” — hit lightly with a picking motion
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
postverbUS /poʊst/
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
sandnounUS /sænd/
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
scrubbyadjectiveUS /ˈskrʌbi/
sparsely covered with stunted trees or vegetation and underbrush
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
sereneadjectiveUS /sərˈiːn/
not agitated; without losing self-possession
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
shadenounUS /ʃeɪd/
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
sunshinenounUS /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/
the rays of the sun
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
thorn-trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
Waldo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Waldo lay on his stomach on the red sand.
wanderedverbUS /ˈwɑːndərd/
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The small ostriches he herded wandered about him, pecking at the food he had cut, or at pebbles and dry sticks.
warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Doss lay before him basking in the winter sunshine, and now and again casting an expectant glance at the corner of the nearest ostrich camp.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
workedverbUS /wɜːrkt/
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading On his right lay the graves; to his left the dam; in his hand was a large wooden post covered with carvings, at which he worked.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading The scrubby thorn-trees under which they lay yielded no shade, but none was needed in that glorious June weather, when in the hottest part of the afternoon the sun was but pleasantly warm; and the boy carved on, not looking up, yet conscious of the brown serene earth about him and the intensely blue sky above.
