adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After nightfall they became still more dreary.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
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 PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading After nightfall they became still more dreary.
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
branchesnounUS /ˈbræntʃəz/
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
calmverbUS /kɑːm/
make calm or still
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
caringnounUS /ˈkerɪŋ/
a loving feeling
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
companionsnounUS /kəmˈpænjənz/
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
daytimenounUS /ˈdeɪtaɪm/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
diedverbUS /daɪd/
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading After nightfall they became still more dreary.
EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
fifthnounUS /fɪfθ/
a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
levelnounUS /ˈlevəl/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
lightlyadverbUS /ˈlaɪtli/
without good reason
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
membernounUS /ˈmembər/
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading After nightfall they became still more dreary.
mountain-desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading After nightfall they became still more dreary.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
PHANTOMnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
rendezvousnounUS /ˈrɑːndɪvuː/
a meeting planned at a certain time and place
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
RIDERnounUS /ˈraɪdər/
a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
SilentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading After nightfall they became still more dreary.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
tenuousadjectiveUS /ˈtenjəwəs/
having thin consistency
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In a small clearing among these willows sat Silent and his companions.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
verdurenoun
green foliage
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
wavenounUS /weɪv/
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
willowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Even when the air was calm there was apt to be a sound as of wind, for the tenuous, trailing branches brushed lightly together, making a guarded whispering like ghosts.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A fifth member had just arrived at this rendezvous, answered the quiet greeting with a wave of his hand, and was now busy caring for his horse.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
yellow-greenadjective
of a color midway between yellow and green
From this reading THE PHANTOM RIDER In the daytime the willows along the wide, level river bottom seemed an unnatural growth, for they made a streak of yellow-green across the mountain-desert when all other verdure withered and died.
