AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
bleachedadjectiveUS /bliːtʃt/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
butterflyverbUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪ/
flutter like a butterfly
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
Cavemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
crowsnounUS /kroʊz/
plural of “crow” — black birds having a raucous call
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
delusionnounUS /dɪˈluːʒən/
(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
demonstrationnounUS /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃən/
a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
earnounUS /iːr/
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
eastwardsadverb
toward the east
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
faintadjectiveUS /feɪnt/
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
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 A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
hillnounUS /hɪl/
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
hollowadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːloʊ/
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
indistinguishableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
interredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrd/
placed in a grave
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
lambnounUS /læm/
young sheep
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
liesnounUS /laɪz/
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
LikeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
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 A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
pickedverbUS /pɪkt/
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
ripplenounUS /ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
sighsnounUS /saɪz/
plural of “sigh” — an utterance made by exhaling audibly
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
skullnounUS /skʌl/
the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
stepping-stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
sunshinenounUS /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/
the rays of the sun
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Like the faint ripple of the summer sea sounding in the hollow of the ear, so the sweet air ripples in the grass.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
tumulusnoun
(archeology) a heap of earth placed over prehistoric tombs
From this reading The ashes of the man interred in the tumulus are indistinguishable; they have sunk away like rain into the earth; so his body has disappeared.
turfnounUS /tɜːrf/
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I am under no delusion; I am fully aware that no demonstration can be given of the three stepping-stones of the Cavemen.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind sighs through the grass, sighs in the sunshine; it has drifted the butterfly eastwards along the hill.
yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading A few yards away there lies the skull of a lamb on the turf, white and bleached, picked clean long since by crows and ants.
